‘Innovative’ Students Passionate About Their STEM Projects Present at MTSU
Many of them dressed for success and exhibiting research at a top level, middle and high school students from as far away as Fentress County, Tennessee, recently converged at Middle Tennessee State University to showcase their STEM exploration in science, technology, engineering and math.
Among them were seniors Ella Holtermann and Matthew Jackson from Hendersonville High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee, who developed a prosthesis for a shelter dog this year after creating a hand prosthesis for a fellow student in 2023, generating national media attention.
It was all part of the 12th annual Middle Tennessee STEM Innovation Hub’s STEM Expo, hosted by the MTSU Tennessee STEM Education Center and held Wednesday, April 3, in the Student Union Ballroom. About 300 fifth- through 12th-grade students worked independently or in teams of up to five students to prepare and present at the STEM Expo.
“The talent was really impressive,” said Kevin Ragland, event coordinator and Tennessee STEM Education Center associate director. “From student interviews, the judges said how confident and innovative they were with their ideas and had practiced and prepared for the expo.”
— the completion of research called the “Panda Project” by Hendersonville High School seniors Matthew Jackson of Gallatin, Tenn., and Ella Holtermann of Hendersonville, Tenn. The judges’ inquiry occurred Wednesday, April 3, during the 12th annual Middle Tennessee STEM Innovation Hub STEM Expo in the Student Union Ballroom on the Middle Tennessee State University campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)
The FFA chapter of Oakland High School in Murfreesboro won the overall award for 9th through 12th grades for research in concrete samples by Lily Amstutz. Judges awarded Stewarts Creek Middle School in Smyrna, Tennessee, the overall top award for seventh and eighth graders and Gallatin, Tennessee-based Aaron Academy, a private homeschool group, with the top honor for fifth and sixth graders. All awards can be found on the Tennessee STEM Education Center website.
Sponsorship came from the Middle Tennessee STEM Innovation Hub, Tennessee STEM Innovation Network, the MTSU College of Basic and Applied Sciences and Tennessee STEM Education Center.
MTSU, Tennessee Tech University, Motlow State Community College and Rutherford and Sumner county schools were event educational partners. Individuals from Middle Tennessee Electric, Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center Inc., Lee Company, Nissan, Redstone Federal Credit Union, Pinnacle Bank and Dainty Dani’s represented their companies as volunteers or judges.
Prosthesis research
Jackson and Holtermann’s research, called the “Panda Project,” benefited a dog named Panda, who was born with nubs on his front legs. It led to building a small cart for Panda.
“We put in a lot of effort,” Jackson, 18, of Gallatin, Tennessee, said. Holtermann said their effort, often working on the project at night, involved “trying to make it the best it could possibly be.”
Jackson said there were “a lot of failures” along the way. Both said that “through perseverance, we kept going.” “The Drew Barrymore Show,” Washington Post and “CBS Evening News with Nora O’Donnell” featured their 2023 hand prosthetic research.
“Dog Wheeler,” research conducted by Liberty Creek Middle School student Ritchie McClellan of Hendersonville, also led to the building of a cart for a dog.
Engineering pathway
Strongly considering MTSU to study engineering and play viola in the concert orchestra, Cole Robinson, 16, a Hendersonville High junior, exhibited a “Lego Lathe” and “Vacuum Engine,” both utilizing Legos.
“I’ve always been fascinated by how stuff works,” said Robinson, whose teacher, Jeff Wilkins, loaned him a lathe to get him going until his parents surprised him with one for Christmas. “He is one of my biggest influences.
“I can’t stop smiling. I have a list of projects a couple of years out. I want to make the world a better place and that is what engineering is all about. I need to persevere and pray a lot.”
Older sister Carmen Robinson graduated in December with a music business degree. Older brother Cooper Robinson plans to transfer to MTSU and study exercise science in the Health and Human Performance Department.
An app to prevent cell phone use while driving
With a project titled “A Better Way,” Christiana Middle School students Alana Goad, Arianna Arias and Ava Nguyen wanted to create an app to prevent cell phone use while people drive.
While they weren’t able to fully complete the project to their satisfaction, they said they had fun during the research experience.
“We learned how to code more and how dangerous it can be when people are driving and using their cell phones,” Goad said. Their conclusion is that the app would foster responsible driving habits … for the well-being of users and those driving on the road.
