The 2nd Annual STEAM FEST took place at the Field Museum (Photo courtesy of NASCAR).
Students from nearly 50 Chicago Public Schools gathered for the Second Annual STEAM Fest at The Field Museum.
The event, which aims to engage and inspire students while highlighting career opportunities in motorsports, was hosted by NASCAR IMPACT, The Chicago Street Race and CPS. In all, about 550 students from 46 STEM and STEAM CPS schools took part.
“The goal of STEAM Fest is to engage and inspire students from across Chicago by introducing them to the excitement and career opportunities that the world of motorsports can provide,” said Julie Giese, Chicago Street Race President. “STEAM Fest has come to represent the pinnacle of our ongoing partnership with Chicago Public Schools, so we’re thrilled to welcome these brilliant students back for the second year here at the Field Museum.”
NASCAR drivers, industry experts, and representatives joined forces with 550 students from 46 CPS STEM and STEAM schools for an exciting design challenge. Among them was Lavar Scott, a Black driver for Rev Racing, who shared his enthusiasm for the event and its impact on him and the students.
“I think there were like 600 kids there yesterday,” he said. “It was really cool to introduce them to NASCAR and why STEM and STEAM programs are very important and useful in NASCAR.
“We did a whole dialogue session with them, where they asked us questions about things that were important to them,” he said.
Lavar Scott, a driver with Rev Racing, participated as a mentor in the NASCAR STEAM Fest (Photo courtesy of NASCAR).
The students were deeply engaged in building their miniature race cars, receiving guidance and ideas from professionals like Scott.
The event’s highlight was the championship round, where finalists from each grade level competed to build the fastest car on four terrains.
The winning teams, one from each grade group (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12), were awarded complimentary tickets for the upcoming 2024 Chicago Street Race, which will take place July 6-7 at Grant Park in Chicago.
“These interactive experiences allow our students to apply their everyday lessons to the real world, and the exposure to professionals in STEM and STEAM fields opens their eyes to the incredible opportunities that exist in these disciplines,” said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. “Our partnership with NASCAR has allowed us to create a dynamic, competitive environment that keeps our students engaged. We look forward to applying the eighth-grade curriculum we’ve developed with NASCAR in the coming year, continuing our efforts to bring the real world into the classroom.”
The success of STEAM Fest underscores the importance of hands-on learning and industry partnerships in shaping future generations of innovators and leaders.
As NASCAR continues its initiatives, including Youth General Admission Pricing for the 2024 Chicago Street Race, the impact on young minds and communities is poised to grow.
“NASCAR IMPACT is all about leveraging our platform and our sport to help empower our racing communities in a material and meaningful way,” said Pete Stuart, Managing Director, Impact Strategy & Development.
“We are incredibly proud of our ongoing partnership with Chicago Public Schools and the Field Museum, and look forward to continuing our work in the Chicago community in 2024 and beyond.”
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