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The Math + Science Coalition's first-ever Student Video Contest culminated with two exciting award events at each of the winning schools, Boys Latin of Philadelphia Charter School and James Dobson Elementary School, on December 9, 2012.

Special guests at each ceremony included Philadelphia Phillies' Scott Palmer as the event emcee, the Science Cheerleaders, Drexel University Cheerleaders, Phillies ball girls, and a surprise appearance from the Phillie Phanatic at James Dobson Elementary School.

Speakers included Fran Andrews, a PULSE volunteer from GlaxoSmithKline who conceived and implemented the contest, LuAnne Jackson, one of the contest judges from Apple, and cheers from the Science Cheerleaders and Drexel Cheerleaders.

Students in the audience were full of energy as they answered math and science-themed Phillies trivia and received giveaways throughout the events.

> Check out photos from each award ceremony!

The fun continued on December 13 when the winning students experienced one of their many prizes - a tour of artist Jill Scott's professional recording studio. Accompanied by their classes, the students got to explore the studio and learn about the industry.

> See photos from the recording studio tours

Also, check out the December 2011 newsletter from Boys Latin, which features the student video contest and recording studio tour!

Congratulations to the winners of the 2011 Student Video Contest!

Grades 6-8:
"Radical Math" from James Dobson Elementary School
Created by six 8th graders, with support from sponsor teacher Ms. Allison McConnell

Grades 9-12:
"A Letter Made Possible with Science" from Boys Latin of Philadelphia Charter School
Created by a 10th grader, with support from sponsor teacher Mr. Trey Smith

Winners were selected by a panel of judges from Apple, Inc. from the top three videos in each age group with the highest amount of public votes. Judges selected the winning videos based on how well the video answered the question, "Why is math and/or science important in your life?"

The winners will each receive $100 in iTunes gift certificates and a field trip with their class to take a tour of a professional recording studio. Each sponsor teacher has won $250 in classroom funds from Staples. Additionally, the winning videos will be featured in an upcoming media campaign for the Math+Science Coalition.

Thank you to all of the participating students, teachers and Philadelphia public schools.

Watch the winning videos here ("Radical Math") and here ("A Letter Made Possible with Science")!

The Math + Science Coalition welcomed Acting Superintendent Leroy Nunery as a special guest at the most recent Coalition meeting on October 14. More than sixty Coalition partners attended.

Nunery stressed the need to include a STEM focus in program like career and technical education and emphasized the importance of connecting both the arts and entrepreneurship with STEM areas. He also asked for the Coalition’s help in connecting our partners with the District, especially in the area of teacher preparation. He said that he hopes the District will integrate STEM across all the grades in an age-appropriate way, with the emphasis on concrete engaging examples in the early grades, connecting examples to theory and exploring STEM careers in the middle grades and working toward content mastery in high school. He also promoted the idea of expanding STEM opportunities for students via after school STEM clubs.

> View Nunery's full presentation here

Explore STEM Philly finished up its 2010-2011 slate of events with a trip to the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center in May. Students from Germantown and University City High Schools attended. The event was sponsored by Pennoni Associates. After a tour of the Water Works Center, students engaged in activities at the Interpretive Center, visited the exhibits, and had lunch at the Water Works Restaurant. For photos of the event, click here.

In March, Fox Chase Cancer Center hosted an Explore STEM Philly event for 90 students and chaperones from Northeast, Lincoln, Central and Washington High Schools. More than 25 members of the Fox Chase staff took part in the program. Students visited Fox Chase immune cell labs, breast cancer labs, cancer biology labs as well as the resource and education center, the fruit fly lab, zebra fish colony and had small group discussions with the researchers. Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center helped to sponsor this event. For a slide show of the event, click here.

In November, students from University City High School and Paul Robeson High School were hosted at the University City Science Center where they learned about the Center, toured the startup labs of Invisible Sentinel and also toured the NextFab Studio. Photos of the event can be viewed here.

Explore STEM Philly sponsored a trip for approximately 60 students from Dobbins, Ben Franklin, Fitzsimons, Randolph and Martin Luther King High Schools to GlaxoSmithKline’s Visiting Students Day in December. The goal of the program is to educate, inspire, and encourage students with an interest in science by presenting real-world opportunities available to them in the pharmaceutical industry. GlaxoSmithKline volunteers provided demonstrations and presentations about their work and engaged students in hands-on activities.

The Coalition’s Explore STEM Philly program has continued to grow. The program provides field trips for Philadelphia students to STEM businesses and organizations in the area.