Studies have shown for decades that the integration of STEAM programs within K-12 education is important to the development of students. These programs are designed to set up children earlier with a strong understanding of STEAM skills, while cultivating students as a future interest for national economic prosperity.

Over the past several years Steve Korte, Group Leader for Kleingers’ Southwest Ohio Institutional Group, has volunteered in many ways for the University of Cincinnati CEEMS program. The Cincinnati Engineering Enhanced Mathematics and Science Program (CEEMS) is led by the University of Cincinnati in partnership with 14 Cincinnati-area school districts. One of the main goals of UC’s CEEMS program is “real world applications: connections to engineering,” and the classroom presentations provide great linkage for the students in understanding how the subjects they are learning apply to the “real world.”

During the program, teachers design a challenged-based learning activity to engage their students in decision making, strategic planning and evaluate plan revisions. At the end of each session, participating teachers are given the opportunity to present their final “units,” displays and videos for judging. Steve served as a volunteer judge during the Closing Day Showcase earlier this month, providing constructive feedback and guidance to the educators.

“As a graduate of the UC College of Engineering, I take tremendous pride in being able to connect back via CEEMS,” says Steve. “It is a great way for me to give back to my community all while educating the stewards for the next generation of engineers” he continues.

The Oak Hills School District, Steve’s alma mater, is a partner in the CEEMS program. “Many of my formal education worlds come together through the CEEMS program. I have been able to take back my professional experience and college education at UC to teach students about how math and science really come together. I even had the opportunity to present at Delhi Middle School, my old stomping grounds,” Steve shared.

Through many years of volunteering, Steve has grown many relationships with teachers and administrators in the Cincinnati area, which has led to several classroom presentations to middle school and high school math/science students. Steve has also sat on numerous panels in an open forum with math and science teachers to discuss what engineering companies are looking for in college graduates (technical skill sets, software programs and soft skills).

“As a group of engineers, surveyors and landscape architects who use math, arts and sciences every day, it is important to myself and others at Kleingers to educate teachers. Giving teachers the tools to explain real-life applications and how STEAM subjects impact their students’ future careers is huge,” says Steve.

To learn more about the University of Cincinnati’s CEEMS program, visit their website: http://ceas.uc.edu/special_programs/ceems/CEEMS_Home.html

Learn more about the “Closing Day Showcase” here: http://ceas.uc.edu/news-1314/ceems-closing-day-showcase-facilitates-promising-classroom-resul.html

Today, we hosted a  FIRST® LEGO® League team, and it was so much fun!  FIRST® LEGO® League introduces young people (grades 4-8), to the fun and excitement of science and technology. Teams of up to ten children, led by two screened Lead coaches, participate in a challenge tournament. Teams and events are all over the world.

By designing challenges around topics, participants are exposed to potential career paths within a chosen challenge topic, in addition to solidifying the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) principles that naturally come from participating in the program. Team members also learn valuable life and employment skills which will benefit them no matter which career path they choose.

Many thanks to Nathan Moore, Jason Ellis, and Brad D’Agnillo, for giving awesome presentations with visual demonstrations to the kids. You should have heard the incredibly good questions the kids asked: How does the point cloud show measurements? What do the different colors in the scan mean? What kind of education/degree did you get to do this?

After visiting several job sites, the kids will select a project. If the topic is something they learned here, we have committed to being available to answer questions as they begin the project. We can’t wait to hear if we piqued their interest in something related to engineering, 3D scanning, or sports fields.

What an awesome opportunity to expose young kids to things we do here and encourage them into the survey and engineering professions. The presentations were so good that I could see us taking this show “on the road”….to local middle and senior high schools!

The Kleingers Group recently completed work for Phase 1 of the Campus-Wide Geothermal Distribution project at Antioch College. This small, innovative, liberal arts college provides graduate programs that mix traditional class time with full-time work and community engagement. The noteworthy geothermal project does much of the same.

The project design elements included a large well field with 300 wells; a new entrance; sidewalks and curb; pervious patio; educational rain gardens and vegetable gardens; and a new grand entrance and drop-off area for students. The survey, civil engineering, and landscape architecture designs were completed by The Kleingers Group. While professionals drilled the geothermal wells and set the previous pavers, most construction was carried out by students on campus as part of their education/studio requirements.

The geothermal plant in combination with an existing solar array provides the College an opportunity to expand its sustainability efforts while reducing its overall power usage. Sources state that this package will help cut campus energy costs by nearly $400,000 annually, once completed.

Wright State University recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for their new classroom building. The new facility will be approximately 60,000 square feet and located west of University Hall and north of the primary pedestrian path from parking to the main academic quad. The Kleingers Group provided the civil engineering and surveying on this exciting new project.

The project features two large Bio-Detention Basins traversed by a highly used pedestrian walk. The walkway features two Black Locust Wood Plank bridges, with steel cable railings that overlook the planting areas. The meticulously landscaped Bio-Detention Basins are engineered with a sub-surface drainage system and a specialty soil mix designed to improve both stormwater quality and quantity. This feature is a purposeful and tactile demonstration of the University’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

Additionally the project incorporates a large lower level outdoor plaza. The plaza space is flanked on the east by a cast stone seat wall and on the south by a series of terraced retaining and seat walls. The outdoor space can also be enjoyed through the expansive, full height, lower level windows.