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CANYON CORRIDOR CONNECTION 2016
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Communi t y Highl ights
Hughens switched her major to education with an emphasis on science
and transferred to Northern Arizona University, where she earned her
bachelor’s degree in 1994.
Her journey led her to develop an acumen for STEM education. In addi-
tion to teaching and writing stints, her resumé includes such positions as
director of educational technology for the Litchfield Elementary School
District and trainer/curriculum designer at the Arizona K-12 Center. In
various roles, she has developed STEM curriculum for educators and
students.
One thing she has learned: If you want a job after college, consider study-
ing science, technology, engineering and math.
“The big thing about STEM is that the growth in careers is outpacing all
the fields,” Hughens said.
STEM a GCU priority
One of GCU President Brian Mueller’s primary goals is to attract students
to the University’s rapidly expanding STEM programs and help meet a
soaring demand in Arizona and around the country for employees in
these fields. By 2020, the plan is for STEM students to comprise 70 per-
cent of the University’s student body.
To further that goal, GCU hired Hughens in May 2014 as its first K-12
STEM outreach manager, in the Strategic Educational Alliances (SEA)
department.
It was a reunion for Hughens and Tacy Ashby, SEA senior vice president.
Hughens taught science for nearly six years in the Cave Creek Unified
School District, where Ashby had been assistant superintendent.
With her seemingly endless arsenal of energy, Hughens takes delight in
spreading STEM love to Arizona middle and high school students and their
teachers. She organizes events such as robotics contests, fairs, conferences
and summer camps, such as, “Amp it Up: The Science & Engineering of
Guitar,” where participants built their own guitars.
She’s on to something: More than 100 principals, superintendents and cur-
riculum leaders from public, private and charter schools attended a STEM
Innovation Breakfast on Tuesday at GCU. The response was so overwhelm-
ing that Hughens moved the event to the Arena, and Mueller gave the
opening talk.
“The STEM pipeline starts with our youngest students and allows them
the experiences and thirst for knowledge to continue building throughout
high school and college so that they can enter the 21st century workforce
prepared,” Hughens said. “I am excited to be a part of this pipeline here in
Arizona and help our children be the innovators and problem solvers of the
future.”
GCU hosts FIRST Robotics Arizona West
Regional competition April 7-9!
G
rand Canyon University hosted the
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition
of Science and Technology) Robotics
Arizona West Regional competition April
7th-9th. 43 high school robotics teams from
Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas all
competed in this year’s challenge “FIRST
Stronghold”. Teams were given the challenge
the first week in January and had 6 weeks to
design, plan, and build a robot. In the challenge
the robots had to maneuver through various
obstacles (defenses) to approach the opposing
team’s towers which they launched projectiles
at, and then scale the opposing tower. Robots
were built in all shapes and sizes, some with
laser guided firing systems, others with systems
to collect the projectiles, and others with
telescoping arms. Teams worked in alliances
with each other against their opposing alliance
and earned points to qualify for the finals.
Students involved with this robotics competi-
tion were eligible to apply for over $25 million
in college scholarships and other awards. Not
only did our local students compete but we also
had over 100 volunteers that helped to judge,
manage, and assist with the competition. GCU
will be hosting the FIRST Robotics Competition
again next year April 5th-8th, 2017 and again it
will be free and open to the public to watch.
Contact
[email protected]for
information about how to start a robotics
program at your school.