They say timing is everything and for Katie Cheek, Gifted Teacher at Satilla Marsh Elementary School, timing couldn’t have been better for enhancing the school’s STEM Lab with a $2,500 donation from Okefenoke REMC.

Annually OREMC dnates to area schools’ Science, Technology, Engineering and Math programs to help promote student engagement and career development, as well as educating them about job opportunities in their own backyards.  “Supporting education and community development are two of our cooperative founding principles,” explained Manager of Member Services Dewayne Johns. “Connecting students with the skills and training that addresses current and future workforce needs is the motivation for investing in school STEM programs. We have so many companies in our service area that need an educated, well-trained workforce. Cultivating students’ interest in STEM and making them aware of the opportunities for future work right here at home is critical to our collective future.”

Ozobots, or tabletop robots that teach coding and levels up as students develop their skills so they can move to online coding, is what Ms. Cheek is planning to purchase and then integrate into her science and social studies classes. Her fifth graders literally jumped for joy when they heard she was going to be able to purchase the Ozobots. “Everyone is so excited,” she exclaimed.

Trades is another key are of need in workforce development in Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida. OREMC also made a $2,500 to the Engineering Program at the Golden Isles College & Career Academy to outfit programmable logic controllers. As Robotics & Engineering Instructor Greg Smith explained, “My goal is to expose students to real world robotic and electrical applications, so students are prepared to meet the needs of our local business community. By giving them insight into electrical, mechanical and architectural schematics, they can walk out of here after graduation and have solid understanding of what they are looking at on paper and how it applies in the real world, making them valuable apprentices to area businesses.”

Photo Captions:

Fifth graders at Satilla Marsh Elementary School joyfully accept a $2,500 donation from OREMC to their STEM Lab, along with (l-r) Lauren Sapp, Parent Involvement Coordinator; Kim Watford, Principal; Katie Cheek, Gifted Teacher; and Dewayne Johns, OREMC Manager of Member Services.

GICCA students and staff were pleased to accept a $2,500 donation from OREMC for their Engineering program. Picture (l-r) are: OREMC Manager of Member Services Dewayne Johns, Sophomore Shaelyn Wilmes, Sophomore Alena Wright, Senior Abbie Jones, President of Skills USA Chapter; Junior Roberto Bosquez, Junior William Henderson, Junior Brady O’Quinn, Principal Dr. Joseph Depenhart and CEO/Workforce Strategy Leader Brian Weese.