BBUC holds STEMsational summer camp

NASSAU | A group of Bahamian youths have acquired new skills that will help broaden their horizons and expand their vision for future success. The Bahamas Baptist University College (BBUC) held a closing ceremony for its STEMsational summer camp on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, with parents and attendees reporting witnessing the children’s skills in robotics and entrepreneurship.

Principal Dr. Theresa Adderley-Smith said the response to the inaugural STEMsational summer camp was overwhelming and paved the way for BBUC to develop more progressive programs throughout the year. Dr. Adderley-Smith thanked the kind-hearted people who sponsored the inner city youth to attend the summer camp, which completely changed their perspective on life and the future.

Over four weeks, campers learned progressive skills, including building a robot from scratch, programming commands for the robot, and then operating the robot using a phone or tablet. Under the guidance of camp coach Terez Newton, campers as young as 9 successfully built and operated a robot from scratch. Campers demonstrated their skills at a ceremony, using the device to command the robot to pick up objects and bring them to the principal. One young man dreams of building a robot to be used in a hospital in the future.

BBUC also partnered with Tennessee Tech University in the United States to showcase the 3D printing and virtual reality aspects of the STEMsational summer camp. According to Muhammad Alshaikh Ali, a summer camp instructor at Tennessee Tech University, young people learned how to take their ideas, design them through software, and then turn them into reality through 3D printing. This will enable them to develop prototypes and templates that can be used to attract investors to their business ideas, among other things.

Led by mentor Paul Taylor, the teenagers in the entrepreneurship camp talked freely about their entrepreneurial ideas at the closing ceremony. They were able to state the name and philosophy of their own companies, and talk about operating costs, marketing, sales strategies and net profits, which delighted their parents.

Dr Adderley-Smith said the students were excited and inspired by what they were learning, especially because there were tangible outcomes, such as 3D printing edible chocolate and pancakes, producing working robots and developing business plans for their ambitious goals.

The Rev. Dr. William Thompson, President of the Bahamas National Baptist Missionary and Educational Conference (BNBMEC), was on hand to witness the success of the students who attended the camp. Dr. Adley Smith said BBUC, with its new motto “Be Yourself at BBUC,” is being revitalized with new areas of study, including a nursing program and a hybrid vehicle technology program in the pipeline.

All campers received participation medals. Trophies were also presented to: Kale Antonio – Superstar Award; Morgan Riley – Most Outstanding Award; and Jovan Cambridge – Most Improved Camper. For more information, visit www.bbuc.edu.bs.