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WCASD High School Students Participate in Techies Day
Careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM/STEM) were the focus of a recent student visit to Vanguard for Techies Day. On November 12, 38 students from East, Henderson, and Rustin High spent the day at the Malvern-based company learning about STEM careers, with sessions on IT, security, unlocking innovation, and the role of data privacy and current STEAM/STEM career paths.
"Techies Day is a career event dedicated for students in Chester County to visit local businesses and see theory in practice. The team of Vanguard volunteers did a tremendous job engaging students in various hands-on learning experiences," said Donna Foley, career education counselor for the West Chester Area School District.
Foley said students became hypothetical Vanguard employees. They engaged in a simulated web application hacking activity and created innovative solutions to real problems.
"Students connected classroom learning with workplace experience, and practiced important "success skills" such as collaboration, teamwork, and critical and creative thinking," continued Foley.
The reflections of the students involved showed new perspectives and excitement about a STEAM/STEM career path.
"I learned about various jobs and roles related to technology. One thing I learned was I might be more interested in coding and computers than I previously thought – and that the most secure password is a sentence," said Anna McNaull, a junior at East High School.
The annual event is coordinated locally by the Innovative Technology Action Group, a committee of the Chester County Economic Development Council.
Techies Day was originally developed to help high school students become educated about careers in technology. It was first established in 1998 by techies.com with the support of CNET Networks.