Richard Bland College of William & Mary Hosts Virginia STEAM Academy

Richard Bland College of William & Mary, in collaboration with the Virginia Science, Technology, Engineering and Applied Mathematics (STEAM) Academy and Petersburg Public Schools, recently hosted more than 30 middle school students who were exposed to hands-on laboratory sessions with Richard Bland College professors, staff and honor students.

Highlights of the STEAM Academy workshop included a chemistry lab where students tested the amount of electrolytes in various sports drinks, an astronomy lab and applied coding for a video game.

“Given the College’s longstanding emphasis on science and mathematics, this new partnership with the Virginia STEAM Academy and Petersburg Public Schools is a natural fit,” said Dr. Debbie Sydow, President of Richard Bland College. “Our shared goal is to spark the interest and curiosity of middle school students to get them excited about careers in high-demand, high-tech fields.”

“When we provide students opportunities for hands-on, relevant experiences, we know their engagement and their academic achievement increase. STEAM education is important to helping students prepare for success in school and beyond,” said Dr. Marcus J. Newsome, superintendent of Petersburg City Public Schools.

The VA STEAM Academy in partnership with Richard Bland College will hold a week-long learning camp this summer on campus. For more information about VA STEAM, visit https://vasteam.org/.