FHSU University Relations and Marketing

The 2015 inaugural Young Makers’ Conference for almost 200 area school children in grades 3 to 5 will be from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at Fort Hays State University’s Memorial Union and the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.

The conference will focus on the integration of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and literacy.

The hope is to develop an interest in STEM education through literature and hands-on activities, which will feature drones, robotics, coding and popular children’s literature. During the lunch break, the children will have the opportunity to make their own robots.

The Young Makers’ Conference committee members are: Dr. Beth Walizer, professor of teacher education (committee chair); Eric Deneault, assistant professor of applied technology; Dr. Craig Smith, assistant professor of agriculture; Dr. Dmitry Gimon, assistant professor of informatics; Joseph Chretien, associate professor of applied technology; Mary Meckenstock, instructor of teacher education; Sarah Rhodes, instructor of teacher education; and Dr. Teresa Woods, assistant professor of teacher education.