Facilitating interests in science, technology, engineering, and math at a younger age is the goal of the proposed Northeast Alabama Challenger Center. A task force made up of people from Etowah County and the counties that surround it is working to make the center a reality.
The center would be a part of the global network of learning centers under the Challenger Center nonprofit organization. The programs at the centers are meant to cultivate problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, teamwork, and collaboration through space-themed simulations.
The Northeast Alabama Challenger Center would be the first in the state. The center's "base camp" area includes Etowah. Blount, Cherokee, Dekalb, Marshall, and St. Clair counties. The center would primarily work in conjunction with schools to get students through the doors.
The nearest learning center is in Chattanooga on the University at Tennessee at Chattanooga campus. The center has been there for around 20 years.
"This is where learning comes alive," said Laurie Allen, the Executive Director of the Challenger STEM Learning Center at UTC.
She explained the center offers interactive space-themed simulations, like investigating the possibility of living on the moon or finding life on Mars.
"We serve a variety of grade levels from pre-K through 12th. Mostly middle school students is who tends to come into our building. We know that's the time where they're starting to think about what they want to do," she said. "If we can think about that interest then we may be able to provide them additional opportunities as they go into high school and beyond."
Students are given a mission lasting two to three hours. Bill Floyd, the resident space educator at the UTC center, said simulations present problems for crew members to work through.
"We're not Cinderella Story-ing anything in the mission software. It's all very real, scientifically based," he said.
The center mostly works with school districts in their area. They collaborate with teachers to align the experience the center offers with what's already being taught in the classroom. Outside of the simulations, there are additional learning activities to engage students.
"It's not that it's all cookie-cutter and one thing. We really can be responsive to a variety of different needs," said Allen.
The center sees students daily. Allen estimated within a week 500 students could go through the simulations. Repeat attendees are also common for the UTC center.
"It is absolutely critical that we foster an interest in these STEM careers. There's so much need for that and there are also careers that we don't even know about that are going to exist in the future. So much of what we are teaching students is that interest in STEM but a lot of what we are focusing on is building that self-efficacy and building that confidence. When they go through this experience they feel not only interested but they go 'I can do this,'" said Allen. "Engaging those critical skills, the critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity that's needed that a lot of employers say. This really becomes a workforce pipeline. The interest starts here and we build upon it over the years."
That's what the task force in East Alabama is hoping for.
"When companies and industry look at locations, they don't only look at the land being sold. They look at the surrounding. The education that is being offered," said Elaine Harris Spearman, a task force member. "This can only help to attract business and in the course of that, you want to keep some of the smartest people and some of the people who are STEM educated. You want them to want to remain in Alabama."
Barry Allen Cherry, another member of the task force and the owner of a local metal fabricator business, said the center falls in line with what's happening in the area with STEM-oriented industry.
"Workforce development is a big passion of mine. Now, that Gadsden State Community College has landed the advanced manufacturing center, this is just a step in that direction," said Cherry. "When you go see a Challenger Center, you see the kids' interaction with each other, the teamwork they are building. What they are doing to accomplish a mission is absolutely amazing. If we can take that attitude and that enthusiasm and move it into the advanced manufacturing center. You step out of one, straight into the other."
"We've got a mega site on I-59 that could open this whole area back up but how do we get there? Who do you employ with? That's where this comes in. You start young, educate, educate and educate. You get hands-on experience. You take it and you grow. One thing we want to do with the Challenger Center is make it available for every child," he said.
The center will be geared towards 5th to 8th-grade students. Programs at the center can be adjusted for upper-grade levels too.
The location of the facility still needs to be worked out.
"We've got school buses. They'll be transported by bus. It needs to be, we've got to have a good-sized area to handle buses. Safety for the kids is a priority. We are looking at all areas around. We are looking at renovating and we are also looking at having to build a new structure," said Cherry.
Spearman believed Gadsden would be the most accessible for all the schools in the counties it would serve.
"Gadsden will allow children from the other six counties to have great access to the center. It is a prime place for its placement," she said. "You won't have to look at going to Huntsville to the rocket center to get an experience. You can have an experience earlier, that you actually participate in the learning experience over a period of time."
It could be anywhere from nine months to two years before the Northeast Alabama Challenger Center becomes a reality.
The center would be outfitted with the newest Challenger Center design.
The task force estimated the project will need at least $6 million in funding. They are looking for funding opportunities at the local and state level. The task force has been in contact with local officials, state legislators, and the governor's office.