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Buckeye students visit Penn State

CONNORVILLE — Buckeye Local High School students interested in science, technology, engineering and math received a look at what their future may hold, during a visit to the Penn State Electro-Optics Center in Freeport, Pa.

Teacher Jeff Merrill, along with a group of five juniors and seniors, had the chance to tour the facility and view ingenuity in action.

Penn State EOC has been a longtime supporter of the school’s annual Sea Air Land Challenge robotics competition, which invites local schools to take part in a series of contests, which are then judged by experts. Merrill said students have visited the competition for approximately three years, having an opportunity to see STEM in use.

“We go there because they sponsor our Sea Air Land Challenge and they opened their facility to tour with the STEM class,” Merrill explained. “The students got to see real engineering. The EOC does research for the Department of Defense, so we saw applications of lasers and potential laser weaponry, unmanned drones and learned their purpose.”

Merrill said several students were interested in having a career in engineering. Through the visit, they were able to learn how that knowledge could be put to use in real life. “They talked to engineers and several even come to judge the Sea Air Land Challenge,” he concluded. “We give them opportunities to see what the world has to offer.”

Some of the students agreed, including senior Shane Griffith. “I loved attending because I got to see things that I would not normally see,” he said. “I liked the laser paint removal the best. We actually got to watch a laser remove paint from a surface. It can remove the paint without damaging the surface it is removing it from. I plan on working in a STEM-based field. I plan to take over the family dairy farm one day and we have recently installed an automated milking system. Technology has definitely enhanced the process of milking. I was very grateful for the opportunity to get to tour Penn State EOC.”

“I enjoyed attending Penn State EOC because I was presented many opportunities to learn and help make a decision about my future,” added junior Jay Snyder. “I enjoyed learning about the fiber optics division. It felt to me to be the most relatable because I use fiber connections with my internet. I am unsure if I want to work in a STEM-based field, but I can definitely see it working into my future in some way. I was very grateful for the opportunity to be able to tour Penn State EOC and experience what they do.”

The next Sea Air Land Challenge is scheduled for May 2, Merrill stated.

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