Students spend summer learning from engineers

While summer means a break from learning for most children, some chose instead to spend their free months at Langston Hughes Library in Corona sharpening their STEM skills.

From July 8 to August 15, roughly 40 middle school students gained valuable lessons in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) from engineers from Delta and Skanska, the construction company rebuilding LaGuardia Airport.

“Whatever you want to be when you grow up, we want you to see the importance of STEM and how it’s useful in your life,” said Ryan Marzullo, program director at Delta, during a brief graduation ceremony last week.

Organized by the New York Hall of Science, the Queens Public Library, and the Library Action Committee of Corona-East Elmhurst, this was the program’s first year and was so popular there was a waiting list to sign up.

The program also included a “Crime Scene Investigation Technology” component in which students dissected crime scenes using science and technology.

Student Emily Herra discussed how she learned to conduct electricity by making Play-Doh. Combining flour, water, vegetable oil, and sugar makes Play-Doh, but when you substitute salt for the sugar, you get Play-Doh that conducts electricity.

“I learned that you can learn STEM anywhere, and it’s really cool and there’s so many different things to do,” she said.