UK Hosts Student Technology Leadership Program to Lead Kentucky Kids to the Future

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 20, 2018) — For the 16th year over 1,300 students poured on to the University of Kentucky campus for the Regional Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP) showcase. The event, co-hosted by the UK College of Engineering and the UK College of Education, is the first stop on the way to the qualifying for the state competition in April.

STLP uses project-based learning principles to empower student learning and achievement through the utilization and creation of technology to solve school and community needs. STLP provides a means for students to design, make, connect and learn with technology while also gaining leadership skills.

Schools decide what projects, products and services to explore to help fit the needs of their school and community.

The STLP showcase also incorporates challenges created by engineering alumni as well as displays of work from the college. Among them were Newton's Attic, started by a 1996 alumnus Bill Cloyd, and the solar car built by the College of Engineering Solar Car Team.

Vanya Bistrekova, engineering graduate, helped table for Newton's Attic which provides engineering education for primary, middle and high school students."I really wanted to be in the engineering field, but I also wanted to do something for the community. Doing Newton's Attic, I get the opportunity to do both."

Jeff Sebulsky, the STLP coordinator, is ecstatic to have the opportunity to partner with campuses such as UK. "We think the STLP showcase is vital to connect students with university campuses, so they develop a relationship with higher education and think of it as an option for their future. They connect with colleges and college students through the various challenges, showing potential future students what higher education is all about.”