Peoples Gas Congratulates High School STEM Student Scholars on Summer of Virtual Learning, Designing and Adventure

Future scientists and engineers completed interactive, hands-on learning led by After School Matters and Project SYNCERE

Peoples Gas Congratulates High School STEM Student Scholars on Summer of Virtual Learning, Designing and Adventure

Future scientists and engineers completed interactive, hands-on learning led by After School Matters and Project SYNCERE

Robot dance parties and hydraulic claws. Computer spy games. Designs for remote controls you can’t lose and tables that swing into place from the back of your couch. These are some of the projects that high school students made as part of Peoples Gas After School Matters summer apprenticeships, developed with Project SYNCERE. This year’s summer projects had an unexpected, high-tech twist: they were all created by teams of students working virtually to keep themselves and their educators safe from COVID-19.

While many summer programs were cancelled for 2020, Peoples Gas, Project SYNCERE and After School Matters made sure this program went forward virtually.

“We had to pivot really quickly to give students this summer learning opportunity,” said Vanessa Hall, manager of media relations for Peoples Gas. “Seventy-five students depended on us for this paid apprenticeship and the chance to learn about the fields of energy and engineering. And we depend on them, too! Our employee volunteers love sharing their job experience, and we hope to see some of these students working at Peoples Gas one day.”

The Peoples Gas After School Matters programs are defined as Advanced Apprenticeships – providing advanced learning opportunities for teens to refine their technical skills while producing a complex final project or showcase. The program gives students interested in careers in STEM fields – science, technology, engineering, and math –the opportunity to advance academically, see how the science they learn in the classroom is used to heat and power Chicago, and meet people whose STEM careers show possible pathways for their futures.

In addition to their projects, students learned about natural gas and energy careers in fun ways. They created a TikTok mashup video to teach others about natural gas safety in homes and in the streets. Students were also able to virtually tour Peoples Gas facilities around Chicago and see demonstrations on topics like putting out a natural gas fire – not something high school students usually see on in-person field trips!

The following students were selected by their teachers and peers as MVPs in their programs:

E-CADEMY – Applied Science and Engineering

• Tyler Lee (Kenwood Academy)

• Amari Peters (Little Black Pearl Art and Design Academy)

ENpowered 1 – Applied Science, Engineering and Robotics

• Shiloh Ajiginni (Latin School of Chicago)

• Chinonyerem Nwankpa (Kenwood Academy)

ENpowered 2 – Applied Science, Engineering and Robotics

• Brandon Anaguano (GCE Lab School)

• Portia Aning (St. Ignatius College Prep)

Other outstanding students recognized by Peoples Gas include:

• Jessica Browley-Claxton is a scholar at Acero Garcia High School. She completed VEXcode VR, Electrical Car, and Hydraulic Claw. She asked thoughtful questions and was often the first scholar to speak up during weekly presentations, discussions, and Q&A. She aspires to be a computer scientist.

• Elijah Brown attends Morgan Park Academy. He was a featured scholar in the TikTok natural gas safety mashup and completed all optional assignments for Peoples Gas. He participated in the class project: Robot Dance Party, using VEXcode VR. He aspires to be an industrial engineer.

• Makayla Turner attends De La Salle Institute. She was a featured scholar in the TikTok natural gas safety mashup and completed all optional assignments for Peoples Gas. Makayla aspires to become a pediatric nurse. She decided to participate in program to do something new and outside of her comfort zone.

• Peace Alawode attends Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy. She was a featured scholar in the TikTok natural gas safety mashup and completed all optional assignments for Peoples Gas. She loves to solve problems and put things together. Peace built the Hydraulic Arm for her group. She is also featured in the class presentation video with the group that completed the "SPY" game. She aspires to be a mechanical engineer.

• Portia Aning was a featured scholar in the TikTok natural gas safety mashup and completed all optional assignments for Peoples Gas. She attends St. Ignatius College Prep and has been a problem-solver in her class. She aspires to be a pharmaceutical engineer.

• Yaleigh Harris attends Francis W. Parker High School. She aspires to be a forensic scientist and is concerned with bettering humanity. She was featured in two projects in the class presentation video: Robot Dance Party and Spy Game.

After School Matters provides Chicago high school teens with high quality, after-school, and summer opportunities to explore and develop their talents while gaining critical skills for work, college and beyond. Since 1991, After School Matters has offered more than 350,000 opportunities to teens, helping them gain valuable knowledge and skills which have helped them discover their passion in life. Programs take place virtually and at locations throughout the city including Chicago public high schools, Chicago Park District and Chicago Public Library locations, community organizations, downtown at the Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, in Belmont Cragin at our Michael and Karyn Lutz Center for After School Matters, and at our new After School Matters at Gately Park space. For more information, visit www.afterschoolmatters.org.

Project SYNCERE (Supporting Youth’s Needs with Core Engineering Research Experiments) is a non-profit organization designed to create pathways for underrepresented students, grades K-12 to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. The 12-year old Chicago organization was founded by three African-American men who were STEM professionals. They recognized the lack of diversity in the fields of engineering and financial management and decided to offer early innovative opportunities for youth. Project SYNCERE helps students discover pathways to post-secondary education and careers while increasing their interests in STEM and improving their critical thinking and problem-solving skills through project-based learning. For more information, visit https://www.projectsyncere.org.

Peoples Gas, a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC), is a regulated natural gas delivery company that serves more than 867,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the city of Chicago. You can find more information about natural gas safety, energy efficiency and other energy-related topics at peoplesgasdelivery.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook @peoplesgaschi.

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