Building Confidence Through STEM: Ardmore Roderick’s Partnership with Hungerford Elementary
At Ardmore Roderick, we believe that exposure and opportunity can shape a student’s future in powerful ways. Through our year-long STEM partnership with Hungerford Elementary School, we are proud to help introduce young students to the possibilities in math and science and show them that these careers are within reach.
This initiative is made even more impactful through our collaboration with the students from our Corporate Work Study Program from Cristo Rey High School, who serve as mentors throughout the program. These high school students take an active role in leading activities, creating a relatable, inspiring connection with the fifth-grade students. By seeing mentors who are not far removed from where they are today, students begin to envision themselves on a similar path.
Our final session of the school year brought energy, excitement, and a sense of accomplishment. The Cristo Rey students led a Jeopardy-style STEM game that tested knowledge gained throughout the year in a fun and interactive way. Ardmore Roderick volunteers, including Ka’Nard Robinson, Malinda Labbe, and Dave Decatur, joined in to support and engage with the students, reinforcing concepts and encouraging participation.
The results were clear: students were engaged, confident, and excited to show what they had learned. The growth throughout the year was evident, not only in their understanding of STEM concepts but also in their willingness to participate, ask questions, and see themselves in these fields.
Programs like this are about more than just education; they’re about representation, confidence, and possibility. By creating consistent touchpoints and meaningful interactions, we are helping to build a foundation that can inspire future engineers, problem-solvers, and leaders.
We are incredibly proud of the students, mentors, and volunteers who made this year a success, and we look forward to continuing this partnership with the next group of fifth-grade students at Hungerford Elementary School in historic Eatonville, Florida.
