< Previous50 UNIVERSITY NEWS AUBURNTIGERS.COM STEM may stand for Science, Technol- ogy, Engineering and Mathematics, but at Auburn University, it covers so much more. Sure, STEM courses and majors are part of the Samuel Ginn College of En- gineering and the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM), but there is at least one STEM major in each of the 12 colleges on the Plains, like agriculture, business and construction. Because of this, Auburn awards more STEM degrees than any other Alabama university. A significant factor in this growth and accomplishment is the work of Virgin- ia Davis, the Daniel F. and Josephine Breeden Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, and Mary Lou Ewald, director of COSAM Outreach. The pair have been collaborating on STEM outreach, workforce development and educational research for nearly 20 years. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey recognized their collective work in 2020 by appoint- ing them as inaugural members of the Ala- bama STEM Council, where they each led a working group of K-12 and university ed- ucators, government employees, industry stakeholders and representatives from STEM education non-profit organizations. “A key focus of the council has been spreading the word that STEM is more than just a few school subjects,” said Da- vis. “In fact, it’s everywhere and many jobs require STEM skills.” Their work with the council sparked the creation of what is now the I-STEM Connectory, a new center at Auburn set to foster the transdisciplinary STEM eco- system on campus to promote pressing societal needs for health, food, water, in- frastructure and well-being among K-12 programs and experiences. Such work has been supported by in- termural and extramural funding, includ- ing from the council. A key example of their effort to con- nect people and disciplines in STEM ed- ucation is Project FARM (Fostering Agri- cultural Research and Mentoring). With funding from the USDA/Na- tional Institute of Food and Agriculture, Davis, Ewald and colleagues in COSAM, College of Agriculture and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System are guid- ing 14 science teachers from Pike and Elmore counties toward integrating agricultural activities into curricula and science fairs with a special focus on food supply, water and forestry. Another project under I-STEM is the Alabama Science and Engineering Fair and STEM Expo, which welcomes Ala- bama middle and high school stu- dents vying for priz- es with their science skills. Top winners go on to compete at the International Science and Engi- neering Fair. “We wanted ev- ery student from ev- ery school to have a chance to learn how to ask and answer questions about their world through science fair participation,” said Ewald. “Along with collaborators and external funding, we’ve grown the fair to over 200 students from 35 schools. “This growth, coupled with a teacher mentoring program we developed and the scholarly articles we published on the positive impacts science fair projects can have on student self-es- teem and STEM career interests, Auburn has hosted the fair and expo twice.” The event demonstrates Auburn as Alabama’s leader in STEM education, no matter the discipline. It’s also a way to highlight campus facilities, research, stu- dents and faculty to future students. Davis was also part of the team that host- ed 10 area high school students this sum- mer as part of a prestigious research and mentoring grant from the National Science Foundation. The students spent 10 weeks conducting research with Auburn faculty in engineering, agriculture or the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment. Opelika High’s Jason Constance and Aiden Stephens were among this year’s participants. They were challenged to de- velop a way to recycle all the components in multilayer plastic packaging. Auburn President Christopher B. Rob- erts, a chemical engineer by trade, visited with each research team when students presented their findings to faculty and their parents. Roberts was ecstatic to see the student work, especially those who used a reactor he developed to recycle food packaging. Opelika engineering and robotics teacher Brenda Howell encourages all her students to participate in the sum- mer camp, especially those with the right aptitude. “It gives our students an opportunity to experience research under a profes- sor and graduate students,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if they have an interest in engineering or math, they will learn skills that will help them in whatever they do.” “If people can see that STEM impacts their world, they’re more likely to be en- gaged in it,” added Davis. UNIVERSITY NEWS BY: AMY WEAVER AUBURN PROMOTES STEM IN EVERY COLLEGE, ACROSS ALABAMA Opelika High’s Jason Constance and Aiden Stephens were among the area high school students on campus this summer, conducting research. Auburn hosted 10 area high school students this summer who presented their research to faculty and family after 10 weeks of work. President Christopher B. Roberts, a chemical engineer, enjoyed seeing the students’ presentations. 129 E. Glenn Ave. (Downtown) (334) 209-6390 1673 Shug Jordan Pkwy. Suite A (334) 209-1295 1684 S. College St. (334) 209-1140 Serving Auburn for over 40 years “Bertha!”52 ON THE PLAINS AUBURNTIGERS.COM A lifelong Auburn fan, wide receiver Colby Stafford has lived an experience that most Auburn fans can only dream of achieving. “My whole life, I’ve always been a huge Auburn fan. I grew up going to the games,” the Mobile product recalls. “When I was two, I went to the 2004 Sugar Bowl. I remember when I was really young, we went to a game against Furman. After the game, my dad brought the toilet paper rolls and we went to roll the trees at Toomer’s. I remember that as being a very cool experience. I went to all the home games in 2013, and that was the best you could experience. Could anything have been better? “Growing up as a big fan but never really thinking I would get the chance to play here – after that, seeing it all come together has been really cool. This has been a remarkable experience.” Stafford, who was second team all-state and first team all-Coastal Region while playing at UMS-Wright High School, joined the Auburn program in January of 2022. “I wanted to come to Auburn, but I knew I wanted to play more football, too. I got lucky and things worked out,” Stafford recalled. “I started asking around and sending my film to schools to see if I could get a roster spot. I came to Auburn for a semester as a regular student. Because of COVID, the roster was limited. I was home in Mobile and I got a phone call offering me a preferred walk-on spot to join the team. They had told me I would get a chance, but when it actually happened in January, it was very cool.” Stafford remembers how joining the team as a walk-on was both exciting and intimidating. “It was cool to be out there, but it was weird seeing all the guys you’d been watching on TV practicing right next to you. But like everything else, the more I was here, everything came together.” One place Stafford has always had it together is in the classroom. The biomedical sciences major holds a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. “After I graduate in the spring, I’m planning to go to med school,” the Chi Alpha Sigma national student-athlete honorary member says. “I’m going to take the MCAT in the spring and then I’m going to take a gap year. Hopefully, I’ll get into med school at either South (Alabama) or UAB and stay in state. I don’t know what specialty I want to pursue yet, but I’ll see when I get in there.” Stafford is thankful for the people who believed he could reach his goals. “I’m very thankful for my family, especially my mom and dad, because they pushed me to do my best in whatever I do,” he said. “Here at Auburn, Coach (Marcus) Davis and pretty much everybody has been wonderful to me. Our coaches have taught me a lot about life. I feel like the life lessons you learn from the game are big, and I definitely value the friends I’ve met on the team. “I’ve always loved Auburn, but it’s cool to know I was a part of it in this way, as part of the team,” Stafford admits. “You have a lot of respect for the people who are there and the work they’re putting in because you know what it’s like. You’ve been there. And for me, with other walk- ons, I know what they‘ve been through and I have so much respect for them. I never thought I would get the chance to play for Auburn, but I’m so glad I followed it through.” ON THE PLAINS WITH COLBY STAFFORD BY: SHELLY POE ‘A REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE’ORANGE AND BLUE ©2024 BLUE MOON BREWING COMPANY, GOLDEN, CO • ALE54 2024 STADIUM MAP 2024 STADIUM MAP AUBURNTIGERS.COM (NS PASS) NORTH STADIUM LOT SOUTH DONAHUE DRIVE HEISMAN DRIVE SOUTH DONAHUE DRIVE HEISMAN DRIVE BILL & CONNIE NEVILLE LOBBY SUITE TICKET PICK-UP 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 20 0 EXIT GATE STUDENT GATE STUDENT GATE SOUTH SERVICE GATE AUBURN PLAYER GUEST STUDENT GATE BROADWAY CLUB & MEDIA CREDENTIALS TIGER WALK CLUB ENTRANCE HIGH SCHOOL COACHES 11 10 1U VISITING PLAYER GUEST & VISITING FAN TICKET PICK-UP NORTH SERVICE GATE VISITING TEAM LOCKER ROOM FOOTBALL RECRUITING OLYMPIC SPORT RECRUITING TIGER WALK CLUB 1 1 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 12 12 14 15 14 13 15 16 16 17 17 18 1819 19 20 20 21 46 46 45 44 44 434241 43424140 4039 39 38 38 37 37 36 35 35 34 34 33 33 32 32 31 31 30 30 2929 28 28 114 113 112 111 110 109 108 107 106 105 104 103 102 21 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 ADA SHUTTLE PICKUP ADA SHUTTLE PICKUP HRC ONLY BROADWAY CLUB ONLY TICKET OFFICE TICKET OFFICE TICKET OFFICE GAMEDAY TRANSIT & FANFEST NEVILLE ARENA TICKET OFFICE Sales & Pick-Up BROADWAY CLUB SUITESSUITES NELSON CLUB BECKWITH CLUB Entry Gate Water Station Cooling Station LEGEND Medical Bag Entry Special Access Statues Guest Services ADA Shuttle Elevator First Aid Tiger Babies Charging Station Student Section Seating bowl closed to non-students Team ShopCIVIL CONSTRUCTION, DONE RIGHT56 2024 AUBURN PARKING MAP 2024 AUBURN PARKING MAP AUBURNTIGERS.COM WOODFIELD LOT (ADA Reserved with Tailgating) SEE NEXT PAGE FOR LEGEND Auburn University is a smoke-free campus. 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