Gretchen Brinza
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National Engineers Week

Each year, the third full week of February is National Engineers Week.  See how we celebrate!

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National Engineering Week was February 22nd-28th!  Go ENGINEERING!

Here's how we celebrated!
A huge thank you goes out to parent Jeremiah Abiade for bringing his Engineering/Science Team 
from the University of Illinois at Chicago to speak to our fourth graders during E-Week!
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Fourth graders are also participating in a scaled-down version of the Pringles Challenge!  In teams, they are using recyclable materials to design a package for ONE Pringles chip!  The package can't be more than 112 grams, must be rectangular in shape, and best prevent the Pringles from breaking.  I'll be mailing the packages and we will wait for their return to school.


Check back for pictures on how successful the teams' designs were!

Designing the packages...
Mrs. Brinza mailed the packages!
Then the packages arrived...and we opened them!
Happy Engineers Week! (2014)
February 16-22 is Engineers Week this year!  Even though we celebrating engineering all year at STEM Magnet Academy, this week is dedicated to all the amazing work engineers do.  Check out the display outside our main office that showcases all that goes on here regarding Engineering at STEM!

Fourth graders had special visitors from UIC's chemical engineering department, led by parent and engineering professor Dr. Randall Meyer!  Thanks for everyone who visited.  It was a great success! 
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Also, a HUGE congratulations goes out to the following STEM students who won the Engineering Essay/Poster Contest sponsored by AAAEA during Engineers Week (eWeek).  These students wrote about an engineer they admire.  They were honored at the Washington Banquet on Friday, February 21st, where Bill Nye the Science Guy made a guest appearance as the Washington Award Winner.

3rd/4th Grade Division
1st Place:  Tessa Fryer, Emmy Hong and Kaylie Mei (Engineer Admired:  Edith Clarke)

5th/6th Grade Division:  Alex Liang  (Engineer Admired:  William Sanford Nye) 
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Front Row: Emmy, Tessa, Mandi, Kaylie, and Alex Back Row: Mrs. Brinza and Bill Nye

AAAEA Essay/Poster Contest...STEM Students Win!  (2013)

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Dr. Soliman Khudeira and Jamal Grainawi from the AAAEA with STEM students
A huge congratulations goes out to fourth grade students Ella Dokic, Kai Ramirez, Nicholas O'Brien, and Lydia Wordlaw for winning the Arab-American Association of Engineers and Architects (AAAEA) Essay/Poster Contest.  These four students wrote an essay and completed a poster on an engineer they admire.  Their hard work paid off and they were honored at the Chicagoland Engineering Award Benefit held at the University Club.  

Besides a monetary prize, students were awarded an engineering book and a plaque.  They even got to meet Dr. Kristina Johnson, the recipient of the Washington Award, a prestigious award given to an engineer who has made an incredible impact to society.  Dr. Johnson has made many contributions in optics and engineering education.  She also has service as an Under Secretary in the Department of Energy and is currently the CEO of Enduring Hydro, a clean energy company in Washington, D.C.  Former recipients of this award include Herbert C. Hoover, Orville Wright, Henry Ford, Neil Armstrong, and Martin Cooper.  Congratulations (future) engineers Ella, Kai, Nicholas, and Lydia!  

Also entering the AAAEA Essay Poster Contest were Angelina Amoruso, Justin Bridges, and Kyujin Derradji.  We are proud of all your hard work, too !

UIC Engineering Faculty Visit with Fourth Graders!

A special thanks goes out to UIC Engineering Professors for visiting us and talking to us about their work in various engineering fields--infrastructure, energy, health, and environment.  Our special visitors were Dr. Jeremiah Abiade, Dr. Belinda Akpa, Dr. Randall Meyer, and Dr. Didem Ozevin.  Fourth graders had TONS of questions for the engineers and we were more than excited to have them a part of our day.  Thank you!

National Engineers Week Display (2013)

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Just outside the main office is a National Engineers Week display highlighting students' favorite memories from their engineering class.   It is truly amazing to see all that they have learned!

Mrs. Brinza's Thoughts:  

A huge shout-out goes to the first two engineers who influenced my life in ways I would never have guessed...an electrical engineer and a mechanical engineer, otherwise known as my dad and brother.  Thank you! Happy National Engineers Week to you both!  
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