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Air & Sea
Navy Engineers Help Teachers
Make Learning Science Fun
Navy engineers are helping local
teachers pique students’ interests
in science, technology, engineering
and math (STEM) to solve problems. FSU
PC and the Naval Surface Warfare Center
Panama City Division partnered to host the
2012 STEM Summer Institute in June.
STEM Camp Coordinator Ed Linsenmeyer
helped obtain part of the funding from the
National Defense Education Program. “Because
of NDEP’s support and FSU PC’s ability
to secure grants, this science camp inspires
more students each year,” said Linsenmeyer.
“This is critical because these students will
ultimately become part of our nation’s future
leadership.”
Director of FSU PC STEM Institute Ginger
Littleton said the summer science camp was
structured to interest students and teachers
alike through a variety of hands-on projects
assisted by scientists and engineers who
work at NSWC PCD. “Like our new solar
LED project, we’re continuing to incorporate
new content to better prepare students
for competing in today’s global job market,”
she said.
Littleton said she polled various organizations
in Bay County asking which business
software prospective employers would prefer
job candidates have mastery of when
applying for positions. “Without exception,
they all specified Microsoft’s Excel spreadsheet
software. As a result, our students are
required to learn Microsoft’s Excel to make
their final presentations at the camp’s conclusion.
So, the program is growing...with
regard to its content, and more teachers and
students are participating.”
Littleton said most of the local middle and
high schools that have participated for years
have already instituted STEM-related activities
into their curriculum. The program is
now, however, beginning to involve more
elementary schools, getting students hooked
into math and science at earlier stages in their
education.
Pictured above, left: Parker Elementary School
Science Teacher Brandon Mullens assists science
camp participants look for micro organisms collected
from sea grass in local bay waters by using
microscope stations. Above, center: Electrical
Engineer Bill Porter demonstrates a soldering
technique to assist 2012 STEM Summer Institute
student Dylan Dalton of Roulhac Middle School.
Photos by Dan Broadstreet, NSWC PCD.
v v v
Many Missions, One Goal:
HAWC Staff Devoted to Health
By Staff Sgt. Rachelle Elsea
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, Tyndall AFB
Commonly confused as part of the
325th Force Support Squadron or
the individuals who run physical
training tests, the Health and Wellness Center
was established in 1995 as part of each
base’s medical group. Their mission is to
assess health risks of individuals, families
and groups of the Tyndall community and to
furnish them with knowledge, resources and
skills that encourage healthy lifestyle behaviors
in order to prevent illness and injury.
The HAWC at Tyndall is comprised of three
civilian employees: an exercise physiologist,
a dietician and an office manager. “Our main
focus is to enhance the fitness and readiness
of our active duty population,” said Mr. Robert
Pagenkopf, 325th Aerospace Medicine
Squadron exercise physiologist. “We can do
that via exercise knowledge, nutrition, health
promotion or even tobacco cessation classes.”
Mr. Pagenkopf teaches classes such as running
clinics, physical training leader’s course,
and strength core classes. “Our HAWC
fit program is the most popular,” said Mr.
Pagenkopf. “It is our only five-day a week
fitness class.”
The class is designed to strengthen and train
all the body’s core muscles. The dietician,
Ms. Michelle Gautreaux, also teaches an
array of classes. “She leads all the disease
management classes that focus on medical
concerns such as diabetes, hypertension and
cholesterol,” said Mr. Pagenkopf. “She also
provides one-on-one nutritional consults,
meal planning, food log reviews, dietary
supplement information, and performance
nutrition and hydration.”
10 THE CIRCUIT September/October 2012