Our 2016 and 2017 Project Fibonacci® STEAM Conferences both showed great impacts in our community and to STEAM Scholars!

Nominator from Notre Dame, 2016

" All four of our cadets thoroughly enjoyed their time at Project Fibonacci - it was the highlight of their summers. Thank you for giving them the opportunity to present the national colors and for their time at the conference."

Xander P., 2016 STEAM Scholar

So some people know that I have been gone for a week. Well, I went to expand my education on a program called Project Fibonacci. It's a program that takes students and college students around NY. We stayed at the Beeches here in Rome, and traveled around to places like Suny Poly, Griffis Air Base, Griffis Research Lab, and so much more. We listened to some speakers such as Dr. David Eagleman from the PBS TV Show "The Brain" and Alan Alda, host of Scientific American Frontiers and an actor from the TV show M*A*S*H. Since this was the first year, the students had to make a project about this trip to show others how it was for us. We were put into 5 teams, which worked on their own project. During all of this, I was able to get to meet so many wonderful people. This was a fun experience. Next year I will go back as a volunteer. So now I'm back home, wishing that experience didn't end.

Melanie A., Parent of STEAM Scholar

“Congratulations and thank you for your support and guidance to our Mohawk Valley youth in encouraging STEAM education. I am forever grateful for the role you took with my son, your impact on this kid will ripple along for years to come.”  

2018 STEAM Scholar

“I’ve learned that taking risks is very important to being successful”  

2018 STEAM Scholar

“The conference was an incredible experience. We learned a lot from professionals, met and worked with scholars, toured various labs and so much more!”

2019 STEAM Scholar

"This conference has increased my interests in science and technology, and I have more confidence in my preferred major."

Parent of a 2019 STEAM Scholar

“To say that this has been a life changing experience for our son, would be an understatement!!! I have never seen a team of more professional, compassionate and excited people so ready to open up the world of STEAM and the career opportunities that can come with it! You made it fun, innovative, exciting -and we are so thankful! This week has opened up a whole new world for our son and we see a spark and excitement in him that was not there before this conference!! The amount of overall growth he has experienced is wonderful! His passion for engineering has come alive more than ever  before! A huge thank you for everything you did this past week and beyond! You have no clue how much this has influenced his future!”

2019 STEAM Scholar

"The skills I have taken away from this week I will use for the rest of my life and career. This conference has truly opened my eyes to the world"

Dr. David Eagleman, 2016 STEAM Conference Keynote Speaker, Author and TV Host, The Brain: The Story of You

“This is an extraordinarily important conference. It represents the marriage of science and technology and the humanities. Everybody should come to this and I’m grateful that I was invited to this and that it exists.”  

Alan Alda, 2016 STEAM Conference Keynote Speaker, Actor & Founder of Stonybrook Center for Science Communications

“Project Fibonacci, keep up the great work!”

Dr. Jennette Epps, 2016 STEAM Conference Keynote Speaker NASA astronaut

“I’m really happy to be a part of Project Fibonacci and hopefully I can help contribute to the minds of these young people and encourage them to continue in STEM and STEAM.”

Dr. Alex Filippenko, 2016/2017 STEAM Conference Keynote Speaker Astrophysicist & Science Commentator, Berkely University

“These kinds of programs can get kids really inspired about STEAM fields, in particular STEM but also art because some people have the art perspective and it turns out that math, science, and art have a lot of these relationships; and the Project Fibonacci program actually explores some of these relationships…it’s one of the few of its kind in the nation right now and we’re hoping that this phenomenon takes off to get more kids inspired to pursue both STEM and STEAM fields.”

Noah N. STEAM Scholar (2016-2017)

“Students are offered a great opportunity by participating this project…Every single moment of every single day you’re doing something amazing…Thanks to all the different speakers, the intellectuals, and everyone who came together to help us to prepare for our career and a successful future.”

Sully W., STEAM Scholar (2016-2018)

“Probably the best week I’ve ever spent. I met so many amazing people, made new friends and just had a great time…Project Fibonacci was such a great experience!”

Muhammed T., STEAM Scholar (2016-2018)

“As a future educator, Project Fibonacci is the very foundation that has to be laid for students going into high school or college―that STEAM is very necessary for life. It doesn’t matter what major or career; students have to be able to incorporate all of these subjects together…Important to me were the other STEAM scholars, a group of some of the most amazing people I have ever met.”

Mackenzie H. STEAM Scholar (2016-2019)

“So grateful for all the memories and amazing people I have met and spent my time with…I can’t wait to do it again…”  

Nicholas B. STEAM Scholar (2018)

“Project Fibonacci means education to me. It has science, technology, engineering, art, and math all in a one-week experience. You meet many new people who will have the same interests as you, and you’ll get to listen to experienced speakers presenting their research."

Alexandra B., STEAM Scholar (2016-2019)

“Project Fibonacci is a place for me to meet other people who are like minded, to help me focus on what fields I want to go into, or other fields just to see their journey and learn about what others did…Over the last 3 years I learned a lot from the projects, like developing new skills to adapt to challenges. My favorite part was working with my teams, brainstorming, and being immersed in how our ideas would play out.”  

Cali K., STEAM Scholar (2019)

“I think that this conference was very important in learning some important life lessons like working in groups, because I know that’s what I have a hard time with.”

Kayleigh G., STEAM Scholar (2016-2018)

“I never thought that art had so much to do with science, but Project Fibonacci showed me how much the connection between other subjects can broaden your view.”

Sally B., STEAM Scholar (2016-2018)

“The keynote speakers blew our minds. Because of Project Fibonacci, I am not shy anymore and I am more open to communicating.

Cynthia M., STEAM Scholar (2019)

“Project Fibonacci is a place where you can not only learn, but engage in many social activities, learning about various aspects of STEAM. My favorite aspect of the conference is the arts, but I have gained interest in science, technology, engineering and math.”

Tea P., STEAM Scholar (2017-2019)

“I absolutely loved attending, making new friends and meeting new people. I loved the workshops and the team building. It helped me become a better leader. It was really unique.”

Brett M., STEAM Scholar (2016-2019)

“Meeting Dr. Michio Kaku really inspired me to go to college as a Physics major. The Project Fibonacci conference was a game-changer for me. I recommend this program to all students. The speakers that you meet are really inspirational. The different physicists and mathematicians and those in other fields are inspiring. Project Fibonacci really helps students find and develop a passion for what they want to do and become.”

Mary B., STEAM Scholar (2018 & 2019)

“This is my second year attending the conference and my sister attended the conference 2 years prior, which is how I got introduced to it. She’d always come home telling me stories about math and science and it really spiked my interest in attending the conference. Project Fibonacci has helped largely in my college pursuits by exposing me to new career paths and helped me understand what I want to do with my life. I would recommend this program to more students, and I hope my school sponsors more kids in the future.”

2016 STEAM Scholar

“The skills I have taken away from this week I will use for the rest of my life and career. This conference has truly opened my eyes to the world"

For full 2016-2017 Conference summaries, click here.


Multi-Media STEAM Fair

2016- Each 2016 Project Fibonacci Foundation team of STEAM Scholars worked together to create five pieces that both inform their target audience about the value of STEAM and persuade them to individually or collectively take a desired action in support of the STEAM initiative. The results were incredible!

Examples of desired actions:

  • Promote STEAM education
  • Encourage STEAM learning by community members
  • Fund or support funding for a school or community STEAM activity
  • Author or vote in favor of STEAM legislation
  • Hire a Project Fibonacci STEAM Scholar

In order to complete their projects, STEAM Scholars were encouraged to:

  • Take notes at each learning session
  • Take photographs and video footage each day of the conference
  • Interview keynote presenters, speakers, workshop presenters and each other
  • Participate in one or more video diaries in response to prompts provided
  • Create or record music for video or digital still image pieces
  • Work daily on collecting content with their STEAM Scholar team

2017- For the 2nd Annual STEAM Conference, our curriculum committee incorporated an entrepreneurial track to our workshops and project development.

Each Project Fibonacci entrepreneurial team worked together to develop a business plan based on STEAM related fields. Scholars prepared for a poster session that they shared with parents, community members, volunteers and business leaders.

 


Meet the 2017 “People’s Choice Award” Winning Team

· Kaitlyn Kulawy: High School Junior (New York Mills)

· Elise White: High School Senior (Binghamton)

· Mackenzie Robbins: College Sophomore (Daemen)

· Mike Bush: High School Junior (Whitesboro)

· Facilitator: Carol Wojdyla (retired Utica School District)

· Not Pictured-Karsten Bratge: High School Junior (Westmoreland)


STEAM Tank

Three STEAM Business Teams were selected to share their business concepts at the STEAM Tank, featuring Shark Tank star Daymond John as well as local entrepreneurs and business leaders. The qualifying STEAM Teams shared their:

  • Business plans
  • Potential next steps
  • Critical feedback gleaned during the STEAM conference