Pennsylvania Chief Science Officer (CSO) Macie B. has been embracing opportunities throughout the year to explore new STEM fields and make an impact in her community.
One of the year’s biggest highlights for her was a visit to the Central Pennsylvania Clinic, which primarily serves the local Amish community. The clinic specializes in genetic disorders that are more common in Amish children. Touring the facility and seeing how patient rooms are designed to better support Amish families introduced her to a side of healthcare she hadn’t seen before. It also piqued an interest in genetics she didn’t know she had.
Back at home, Macie and her fellow CSOs focused their Action Plans on hosting their school’s first annual STEAM Night. The event welcomed more than 170 students and 68 families for an evening of hands-on STEM activities. Thanks to support from local businesses like Weis, Blaze Alexander, and Chick-fil-A, the event was a great success. Community organizations hosted activity tables alongside student-led projects, creating an engaging experience for everyone who attended.
She also had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., with fellow CSO Maddie, to attend the 10-Year STEM Anniversary Convention. There, they connected with Chief Science Officers from across the country, shared ideas, and brought back inspiration for future STEAM Night events.
CSO Macie feels her growth stems from the fac that each opportunity she participated in built on the last. Visiting the Central Pennsylvania Clinic opened Macie’s eyes to a field she hadn’t considered before, STEAM Night showed what was possible when a community comes together, and meeting Chief Science Officers from across the country in D.C. gave her fresh ideas to bring back home. Together, those moments showed her just how many different paths STEM can open—and how much she could learn by saying yes to new experiences.
