Leadership STEAM Academy Kickoff Featuring Dr. Me
On the morning of August 24, 2024, the Bakersfield Chapter of Links Incorporated launched its inaugural class in the STEAM Academy for the new school year. The cafeteria of Emerson Middle School on 801 4th Street roared with excitement as eager students gathered, ready to engage in a day of learning and excellence. It brought together academy students from 4th through 8th grade to take the journey up the steps of learning and discovery regarding the structure of the human body and its functions.
By Jason Land Jr. | Contributing Writer
On the morning of August 24, 2024, the Bakersfield Chapter of Links Incorporated launched its inaugural class in the STEAM Academy for the new school year. The cafeteria of Emerson Middle School on 801 4th Street roared with excitement as eager students gathered, ready to engage in a day of learning and excellence. It brought together academy students from 4th through 8th grade to take the journey up the steps of learning and discovery regarding the structure of the human body and its functions.
The morning was the start of what promised to be an exciting and enlightening day, beginning with a warm welcome by Bakersfield Chapter of the Links President Zadie Hurd. She introduced special guests for the event: Dr. Janice Ray, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Dawnessa Crawford, nursing student attending Marsha Fuerst School of Nursing. Their presence was indicative of the determined commitment the Links have in making sure each participant goes through a meaningful and memorable experience.
After the introduction, Program Director Odella Johnson took to the podium to expound more on the STEAM Academy. She explained the essence of the program in enlightening and empowering the new leaders of the future, much more in the context of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
A fun, symbolic induction ceremony led off the day, with students coming in to processional music dressed in white lab coats— a message to them that if Dr. Janice Ray could make it into the medical field and achieve greatness, so could they. It was more about donning the mindset of possibility and ambition than about simply wearing a lab coat.
Dr. Janice Ray captivated the young scholars with a brilliant, interactive, and engaging presentation on organs of the human body and their very vital role in keeping us healthy. She did not deliver a mere lecture but encouraged the students to ask questions and reflect critically on this information. This interactive way gave birth to the urge to know more and to delve deep into the subject.
Dr. Ray also introduced the students to the different types of medical doctors and surgeons, explaining their various specialties and their distinct importances in healthcare. When she posed questions based on what she presented, students could not hold their excitement and hence were faster in contributing in giving their knowledge about doctors and physicians.
To emphasize her lecture, the students took a quiz at the end of the presentation by Dr. Ray. At that moment, their confidence level skyrocketed due to their excitement in how much they had really learned. Students were therefore rewarded money and several other prizes, making the day more motivational and amusing.
The day’s educational journey didn’t merely stop with the human body. Shirley Gordon, also an esteemed member of the Bakersfield Chapter of the Links, spoke in detail about the history of Historically Black Colleges and Universities with the students. An alumna of Hampton University herself, Shirley shared what it’s like to possess some of the distinctive qualities found in an HBCU education.
She shared the top five reasons to apply to an HBCU: a strong sense of community, rigorous academics, cultural connection, homecoming experiences, and legacy. Shirley emphasized highly respected institutions, which entailed but were not limited to Howard University in Washington, D.C., and Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. She highlighted the significance HBCUs played in providing a quality education and a supportive environment for students of all backgrounds. The students left with a deep understanding of HBCUs and the opportunities they afford.
After the presentations, students were dismissed to classrooms so they could experience the “Dr. Me!” workshop. Here, the students were taken through various interactive games and activities where they skillfully reinforced what was learned throughout the day. One of the highlights entailed a quiz where students identified where the organs are located within the human body. The workshops were burning with excitement as students engaged in friendly competitions for prizes and awards.
Through group activities, students worked together to match human organs with the correct places in the body, thus strengthening the concepts they had of human anatomy. Links member Debbie Derry Strong, retired nurse of Bakersfield College, and nursing student Dawnessa Crawford, provided guidance and support to the scholars concerning the different human organs and their functions.
The day concluded with dismissal to lunch back in the cafeteria, everyone joyful after their workshop sessions. The students left not only with increased knowledge of the human body and its systems but also with the feeling of accomplishment and excitement for the future that awaited.
The Links STEAM Academy class experience was more than just a day of learning, but an invigorating experience in the STEAM fields to make their dreams possible. These young scholars head into this school year armed with knowledge, confidence, and a firm belief that they, too, can make a difference in the world.
