By Efren Acevedo

Although many haven’t heard of the STEM program here at the Farm, it has made its mark on this school. The program introduces the students to the world of engineering.

STEM was created by a joined effort between science teachers Ron Livingston and Chuck Sprague, who both have engineering backgrounds. Livingston has a Civil Engineering degree from Duke University and Sprague has a Metallurgical/Materials Engineering degree from the Colorado School of Mines. The two teachers have their own specialties. Sprague focuses more on teaching about three dimensional design and the eco-marathon project which is building an energy efficient car made of carbon. Livingston, on the other hand, focuses more on the Technology Student Association (TSA).

The eco-marathon car project comes from the University of Colorado Denver. Alongside Sprague and

Livingston are some graduate students and professors from CU Denver helping with the Shell Eco-marathon car. The students and instructors are busy now more than ever because the competition will be held on April 9 in Detroit, MI.

Livingston is also busy with teaching robotics and the principles of engineering. His group of students are currently preparing for the TSA state leadership exposition which will be on Feb. 19-21 in Denver. In this program, students will compete to see who can create the best machine. Currently 10 students from WRHS will be attending the expo and are currently preparing for that upcoming date.

“Anyone is welcome to join. In fact we encourage students to join,” said Livingston. The STEM program also offers classes that teach the principles of engineering and also teach how to make rockets and then enter competitions. This is the first year that the STEM program is in action.