Stevens, Hoboken Family Alliance, 11 Hoboken schools launch STEM-a-thon

More than 300 Grade 6 students from all 11 of Hoboken’s public, private, and charter schools will participate in a day of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning, teamwork, and innovation at STEM-a-thon: A Day of Innovation for Hoboken’s 6th grade students, to be held on June 2 at Stevens Institute of Technology. This inaugural event is being sponsored by Stevens in partnership with the Hoboken Family Alliance.
Activities will inspire students to collaborate, create, and innovate to complete a variety of challenges successfully.

“One of the key goals of this event is to engage and inspire Hoboken’s budding scientists and engineers in the fun and excitement of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,” said Dr. Nariman Farvardin, president of Stevens Institute of Technology. “STEM is everywhere, in iPhones and video games, in medical advances and in innovations that make our city more secure and resilient in future storms like Hurricane Sandy. We hope that many of the students who attend the STEM-a-thon will consider pursuing STEM degrees and careers.”

Hoboken Family Alliance is a co-sponsor of this event.

“As one of the city’s only not-for-profit organizations that strives to develop programs to unify our community, we are excited to partner with Stevens Institute of Technology to bring this program to all of our schools and engage students to solve fun STEM challenges in an academic setting” says HFA Director of Finance, Ms. Rachel Matthai.

Students from Hoboken Public Schools (Calabro, Connors, Wallace), All Saints Episcopal Day School, Elysian Charter School of Hoboken, Hoboken Catholic Academy, Hoboken Charter School, HoLa Hoboken, The Hudson School, The Mustard Seed School, Stevens Cooperative School are all participating in STEM-a-thon.

The event will begin at 9 a.m. in the Canavan Arena on the campus of Stevens Institute of Technology. Stevens student and faculty volunteers will guide 6th graders through several activities, culminating with a closing ceremony at approximately1:30 p.m. where each school will receive a STEM experience and a 6th grade class party donated by Hoboken Family Alliance and many area businesses.

Mayor Dawn Zimmer, Hoboken City Council President Ravinder Bhalla, and Sixth Ward Councilwoman Jen Giattino are expected to attend.