EAST BANK, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Arclin Amines, in collaboration with Explore: The New Manufacturing, recently hosted a hands-on STEM Academy for 8th-grade students at East Bank Middle School. The interactive half-day program, held on January 28th, aimed to inspire the next generation of innovators by introducing them to real-world applications of STEM concepts and manufacturing careers.
“The Explore Program partners with manufacturers across the state each year to educate students about manufacturing through hands-on activities,” said Monica Cross, Executive Director of the Explore Program. “It is crucial for companies like Arclin to participate in these activities, helping students understand what happens inside the facilities they pass every day and how they, too, can pursue careers in these industries. We emphasize that if you look at all the manufacturers in West Virginia, you could almost build an entire house with WV-made or WV-impacted products. Manufacturing is a stable and growing sector, and our mission is to spark interest in the future workforce for our state.”
As a local manufacturer just miles from the school, Arclin Amines recognizes the importance of engaging with students early to showcase the vast career opportunities available in their community. Employees Heather Henson, Senior Chemist, and Mechanical Reliability Engineers Jacob Eplin and Zach Carper led students through interactive STEM demonstrations, highlighting key concepts in chemical manufacturing. Beyond the experiments, students also explored the broad landscape of manufacturing in West Virginia, learning how industries from concrete production to aerospace technology contribute to the state’s economy.
A Competitive Challenge: Building the Tallest Tower
The STEM Academy concluded with an exciting engineering competition: students worked in teams to construct the tallest possible paper tower capable of supporting a can of food. This challenge, led by Explore: The New Manufacturing, encouraged students to apply real-world problem-solving skills used daily in manufacturing, including teamwork, structural design, and innovation under constraints.
East Bank students excelled in the challenge, constructing some of the tallest towers the program has seen across the state. The winning tower stood at an impressive thirty-four inches, with the second-place team’s structure measuring just two centimeters shorter.
“Applying manufacturing process principles learned in the labs, the tower challenge helps students learn how to work together efficiently,” said Cross. “It is fabulous to listen to all their conversations and see how the teams can bring together winning results.”
Arclin Amines’ partnership with Explore: The New Manufacturing reflects the company’s commitment to workforce development and STEM education in West Virginia. By engaging students in hands-on learning and exposing them to career pathways in manufacturing, programs like the STEM Academy help build a skilled and innovative workforce for the future.
