P’ville STEM Fair Helps Students Explore Career Possibilities
Three years ago Pleasantville residents Martha and Chuck Matteo helped form the Science Olympiad at Pleasantville Middle School. Following its rapid success, the couple sought to familiarize students with the science, technology, engineering and math career opportunities that are available.
On Monday night, about 20 STEM experts converged at Pleasantville High School to talk with students at the district’s inaugural STEM Career Fair, discussing the plethora of career options. Martha Matteo said when she first got involved with the district’s STEM efforts, most students knew about careers as doctors and veterinarians were available, for example, but were unaware about the full scope of careers that use different aspects of STEM.
Ravikuman Ramachandran, who works in microelectronics for IBM, said events like the career fair will help steer more students to STEM-related careers.
“I think awareness is half the problem, being aware of what opportunities exist and what their interests are; then they can match opportunities with interests and try to make what is the best fit for them,” he said.
Ramachandran, who always loved math and science, came to the United States to attend the University of California Berkeley with hope of becoming a professor. But when finding a job in academia proved difficult, he wound up working in technology.
He was not the only one at Monday’s event who fell in love with a career he never expected to have. Frank Stapleton, a local dentist, said in 2002 he decided that he wanted his computers to be able to write patient consultations for him. After eight years, he was able to create a computer system that offers an evidence-based health rating system for patients that allows them to have access to their records.
Peter Allen graduated from Brown University with a mathematics degree, but after finding that too abstract and dry, he found himself driving a taxi for four months before taking a job teaching high school math and computer science. That prompted him to return to school and earn a master’s degree and ultimately a doctorate in computer science.
Although all of the presenters at the STEM career fair had advanced degrees, Kirk Czymmek, who works with Zeiss Microscopy Labs, said that a student who doesn’t achieve top grades in high school may still be able to find a STEM career as long as they are creative, productive, able to apply themselves and work well as part of a team.
“Sometimes I have a student who didn’t do so well in school but is extremely creative and that person can go in and be very successful in a career as well,” Czymmek said.
Dozens of students used the fair as an opportunity to network with professionals, some of whom offered internship opportunities. Superintendent of Schools Mary Fox-Alter praised the event and was impressed by the turnout.
“[There’s] a lot of great community members and a lot of talent in the region, this is a good thing,” said Fox-Alter.
Martha Matteo was also impressed by the success of the event, never expecting the district’s STEM initiative to grow so quickly. As the interest grows, The Pleasantville Friends of STEM, which co-sponsored the career fair with the Pleasantville Science National Honor Society, continues to look for volunteer coaches for the Science Olympiad, Lego Robotics and the Math Olympiad at all three schools.
She said the goal is to create a pipeline of STEM savvy students who can rise to the challenges of the 21st century. Over time, she hopes that more community members will be eager to volunteer and eventually take over the efforts.
“The trick is going to be passing the wand. I can’t do this forever,” Matteo said.
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