Rohnert Park - Sonoma State Executive MBA (EMBA) Alumni, Matt Spence and Brian Ambrosini, recently launched a first-ever regional youth camp designed to provide children the opportunity to gain and improve skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The innovative camp uses drone technology to teach the fundamentals of engineering, with the goal of narrowing the gap in STEM knowledge among youth and inspiring participants to seek STEM career pathways and professions.
"There weren't opportunities like this when we were in middle and high school," Matt Spence, co-founder and director of operations for STEM Camp said. "The quadcopter is a highly sophisticated platform for explaining the various facets of engineering and brings a cool aspect to motivate students to pursue post-secondary education and careers in STEM."
"Our goal is to increase awareness of this unique opportunity to any local student who wants to participate and has the desire to learn," Brian Ambrosini, co-founder and director of sales for STEM Camp said. "We're committed to providing an exciting, engaging, and affordable educational experience to empower local youth to be the next generation of industry leaders."
"We wouldn't have STEM Camp without the office space provided by Entreprenoma, Sonoma State University's student-run Entrepreneurship program. In addition, Sonoma State's EMBA program gave us the tools and inspiration to get this idea off the ground," Spence added.
STEM Camp is designed with a four-to-one student-teacher ratio. The specialized learning environment provides students a hands-on approach designed to improve individual skills and problem-solving within a team. Students learn frame design, motor and propeller sizing for weight control, speed and flight control, battery systems, and applied mathematics.
All proceeds from STEM Camps are put back into the program or given out as scholarships to students.
Ambrosini, Spence, and their co-founder, Jason Keller, STEM Camp's director of engineering, grew up in Sonoma County.
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For more information about STEM Camp, please visit www.stemcampusa.com.
For more information about Entreprenoma, please contact Valery Vue at valery.vue@sonoma.edu or 707-664-2220.
About the School of Business and Economics
Sonoma State University School of Business and Economics' vision is to be the educational nucleus of a thriving North Bay economy. Its mission is to create extraordinary learning experiences for our students and to advance best business practices in the North Bay and beyond. With undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs serving over 1500 students each year and concentrations in Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, Wine Business, and Economics, the School offers the most in-demand degree on the Sonoma State campus. The School of Business and Economics is accredited by AACSB (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), making it one of 15% of all business schools in the world to meet these standards of excellence. For more information, visit sonoma.edu/sbe