Science Night Celebrations Coming to a School Near You

Schools across eligible regions of South Carolina will celebrate STEM Education Month 2022 in a special way. Thanks to a partnership between Duke Energy, South Carolina’s Coalition for Mathematics & Science, and the Morehead Planetarium Science Center, they will host a fun, hands-on science event for students and their families as part of the annual March celebration.

Duke Energy Science Night, already a wildly popular community engagement program during the annual North Carolina Science Festival, has arrived in South Carolina. Thirty schools in the Duke Energy service area in South Carolina will receive Science Night Activity Kits including activity guides, materials for 200 students, downloadable digital resources (including Spanish language versions), promotional materials, and virtual support, all at no cost.

“Bright futures begin in the classroom, and every one of our students deserves a fair chance at academic success,” said Amanda Dow, stakeholder engagement manager for Duke Energy in South Carolina. “Duke Energy Science Nights are a proven success story in expanding opportunities for underserved students in STEM topics, and we are very excited to bring this program to South Carolina.”

List of participating schools
Varennes Elementary, Anderson
Bennettsville Intermediate School, Bennettsville
Jackson School, Camden
Pine Tree Hill Elementary School, Camden
Dewey L Carter Elementary, Effingham
John W. Moore Middle School, Florence
Hollis Academy, Greenville
Alexander Elementary School, Greenville
Eleanor S. Rice Elementary, Greenwood
Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Elementary School, Greenwood
Chandler Creek Elementary, Greer
Clinton Elementary School, Lancaster
E.B. Morse Elementary School, Laurens
Marion Intermediate School, Marion
McColl Elementary Middle School, McColl
North Mullins Primary School, Mullins
Reuben Elementary, Newberry
Walker Gamble Elementary School, New Zion
Oakdale Elementary School, Rock Hill
Blue Ridge Elementary School, Seneca
Spartanburg School District 6, Spartanburg
Meeting Street Academy, Spartanburg
Drayton Mills Elementary, Spartanburg
Starr Elementary School, Starr
Dr. Rose H. Wilder Elementary, Summerton
Ware Shoals Primary, Ware Shoals
West Pelzer Elementary, West Pelzer
Cedar Grove Elementary, Williamston
Palmetto Elementary School, Williamston
Cotton Belt Elementary, York

Bennettsville Intermediate School Instructional Coach, Ms. Kim McLaurin, expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to host a Duke Energy Science Night, noting, “Partnership is vital to the success of our children and any opportunity to work with other organizations is always a positive. When our children learn by doing, this helps develop their understanding of what career possibilities may be in their future. This will also give us an opportunity to invite our parents and community in to see the power of STEM.”

Jeff Upton, a teacher at Chandler Creek Elementary School added, “We are always looking to get students and parents interested in science. Duke Energy Science Night will be a great way to get the students and parents involved with building critical thinkers and problem-solvers while demonstrating what they are learning about the standards in the classroom. We are committed to making our partnership with the parents stronger and this would be an excellent way to keep this commitment going.”

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math and is widely viewed as crucial to preparing students for jobs of the future, particularly in South Carolina, where advanced manufacturing has become a cornerstone of the economy.

STEM Education Month, launching on Pi Day (March 14, 2022) is sponsored by South Carolina’s Coalition for Mathematics & Science, which is part of Clemson University’s College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences.

Tom Peters, executive director of the Coalition, states,” During STEM Education Month we honor South Carolina’s STEM Educator of the Year and highlight STEM anywhere it is happening across our state, including in schools that make Duke Energy Science Night a hometown celebration of STEM Education!”

Learn more at https://www.scstemmonth.org.