RAMS and Quidel Ortho ‘STEAM’ It Up
The Los Angeles Rams recently partnered with QuidelOrtho to host the first-ever Los Angeles Rams STEAM Day, a groundbreaking event aimed at inspiring and empowering local students through hands-on activities and engaging them in sessions focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEM).
Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
The Los Angeles Rams recently partnered with QuidelOrtho to host the first-ever Los Angeles Rams STEAM Day, a groundbreaking event aimed at inspiring and empowering local students through hands-on activities and engaging them in sessions focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEM).
(Left to Right) D’Marco Farr Rampage Eric Dickerson Neville Gallimore all assist in Rams food give away at So Fi Stadium- they helped distribute more than 20,000 meals (Photo: Sara Medina)
The Rams STEAM Day was able to help students in greater Los Angeles get insights into careers in STEAM. They are exciting, relevant, and attainable no matter what type of background they have. Some 600 middle school students gathered at So Fi stadium and were given a tour of how STEM is involved in their everyday lives.
The trees, water, and the building structure itself are connected – “The digital pylons used on the football field. The Scoreboard all are STEAM related, there’s so much around us that’s unknown to them (students and public),” said Erin Bigas the Senior Managing of Corporate Marketing and Communications for QuidelOrtho. “We want the kids to know you don’t have to go to Medical school to become a Doctor,” She added the New Jersey native.
Quidel Corporation acquired Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Holdings in May of 2022 for around 6 billion dollars. Together, the merger created Quidel Ortho. Today, they provide several medical diagnostics, In Vitro Diagnostics, and Clinical Diagnostics, along with many others leading the health service. Bigas’s position allows medical personnel and companies to know it’s done at a premium level. Bigas is a Yoga lover and can bring the best inner self out of people who are unaware they can.
There was an instant impact on some students. “I want to be a teacher,” said Keily Gutierrez, a sixth grader. “STEAM’ has already helped me. I think there’s more I can do to help me get better.”
Former L.A. RAM defensive back Isaiah Johnson spoke with a group of sixth and seventh graders. AI (Artificial Intelligence) is all around,” said Johnson. -Science is in your body. Being healthy in your food. Technology is all around.
Engineering and ART are in front of you every day. It can help you make money -and help with your credit.” He added.
He was an All-District and All-State football player but also an academic honor roll student at Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, Georgia.
Johnson went on to Georgia Tech- he spent five years there getting two degrees. -Bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in finance, along with going on to earn his master’s in building construction—a degree inspired by his father, who was a life-long carpenter. He was asked if he knew what he was going to do after he finished playing football.
He had a sister with Down syndrome, and he had to prepare financially for life after football.
More than 600 elementary students gathered at So-Fi Stadium for the first ever STEM DAY Here are a few from Longfellow school -Photo-Earl Heath
Sixth grader David Montgomery of Frank D. Parent Elementary School in Inglewood was asked what he learned from the STEAM event. “I learned there is so much outside of football in life.”
