The University of Houston, this weekend, was host to the Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering (TAME) 25th Annual Statewide Math and Science Competition.
Encouraging women and underrepresented minorities to become more involved in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, the event brought 320 middle and high school students from across the state to the UH campus.
Students from as far away as Amarillo and as close as Houston—the majority of whom won their local TAME math and science competitions—competed for state honors in morning math and science tests. By the afternoon, students were using their problem solving skills to design a wind turbine with everyday items such as paper plates, tape, crayons, Popsicle sticks and construction paper.
Each year, students from UH’s Program for Mastery in Engineering Studies (PROMES) help put together the Gulf Coast TAME Regional Math and Science Competition. The April 10 event was the first time, in recent years the statewide event was held at UH, said Kathy Zerda, PROMES director and TAME board member.
Zerda and PROMES students lent a hand at the all-day event, and even put together one of the activities—a scavenger hunt taking students around the campus.
“Many of these students represent the first generation to attend college in their family,” said Zerda. “The scavenger hunt gave them a chance to see the college campus and maybe picture themselves in this environment one day.”
The TAME event represented one of many community activities PROMES students participate in to encourage middle and high school students to succeed in math and sciences.