At the announcement of the Arclin expansion last year, Arclin announced a new collaboration with Dillon-founded STEM nonprofit AcaSTEMics. What is AcaSTEMics, and who is behind it? AcaSTEMics is the brainchild of Jerome D. McQueen, an environmental engineer, who was born and reared in Newtown. Many remember his mother, the late Willie Dell McQueen. He is also brother to Kadra McQueen Wright and Kendra McQueen Fling, who are well-known throughout the area. AcaSTEMics brings awareness of STEM opportunities and allows students to dream about what careers they never thought possible. Their website states, “AcaSTEMics is dedicated to inspiring young minds with big dreams. We’re here for the kids who aspire to be engineers, doctors, or computer programmers but lack a clear path. We’re about nurturing the little girl determined to conquer cancer and the eighth-grader struggling with algebra who harbors dreams of NASA. By immersing young people in STEM, we ignite their belief in their own potential. We show them that these careers are attainable and within reach.” The partnership has already brought and will bring enriching STEM opportunities to students in Dillon County. The below video is a TED talk on Jerome’s journey:
Jerome McQueen and AcaSTEMics
