More than 150 ninth and 10th graders from school districts around Northeast Ohio descended on Gardiner’s Solon headquarters over two days in November to take a deep dive into the dynamic world of STEM and HVAC. Solon City Schools was among the six districts participating in the first-ever event.
The goal? Energize and engage kids in the exploration of abundant career opportunities available in the skilled trades, says Jenn Rhinehart, one of the main organizers of the Gardiner/STEM Day event.
“Specifically HVAC technicians — there are not a whole lot of people going into that field,” she says. “If the students are interested in STEM, it can be applied as a technician or it can be applied as an engineer.”
Nearly three dozen Gardiner employees created and facilitated many interactive experiences, including race car simulators and activities such as load calculating, game theory, ice breakers and more. Other event highlights included a speaker who works for Cavs Legion who spoke about gaming and how he has built his own company, Ethlete, as well as companies offering internships, shadowing and mentoring opportunities. Six colleges were also in attendance to counsel students on the educational pathways available.
