CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – More than 140 third and fourth-grade students from Kanawha County participated in an engaging, hands-on chemistry and engineering demonstration at the Clay Center.
Arclin Amines, a Belle-based manufacturer, hosted its second annual STEM Celebration for Eastern Kanawha County students. This interactive learning event is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to inspiring young minds and introducing them to exciting opportunities in manufacturing and STEM careers.
“Our goal is to engage with students in our community early on, fostering awareness of the career opportunities available to them in the manufacturing industry,” said Alicha Hunt, plant manager for Arclin Amines. “Manufacturing is growing in West Virginia, and by the time these students enter the workforce, new STEM careers will have emerged. We want to ensure they are prepared and ready to step into these exciting new roles.”
Students from Belle, Cedar Grove, Chesapeake, Malden, and Mary Ingles Elementary Schools rotated through seven interactive STEM demonstrations, each led by Arclin employees. These demonstrations were designed to engage students with scientific concepts while showcasing their practical applications in modern manufacturing.
STEM Topics and Demonstrations Include:
* Learning About Liquid Density: Making a Lava-Lamp.
* Acid-Base Reactions Can Also Be Endothermic Reactions.
* Exothermic Reactions: How to Make Elephant Toothpaste.
* Surface Tension: Why Germs Dislike Soap.
* Frictional Force: How Strong is Friction?
* Chemical Filtration: How Molecules are Filtered and Pass-Thru
* State of Matter: Learning About Non-Newtonian Fluid
* Polymer Interaction Through Making a Bouncy Ball
Arclin is committed to providing valuable STEM resources to the community and has actively developed a strong educational outreach program in partnership with local public schools, homeschool groups, and the library systems of Kanawha and Putnam counties.
“For over five years, we have been working to bring STEM education to our communities,” said Hunt. “Each year, we see the growing impact as we engage with elementary, middle, and high school students in Eastern Kanawha County. Just this past year, our scholarship applicants shared how our community efforts inspired them to pursue a chemical engineering degree. This kind of feedback is exactly why we hold these events—to expose students to the opportunities available to them right here in West Virginia.”
