Campbell High preps students to have careers in STEM fields

Efforts are underway at the state’s largest high school to groom students into future computer scientists, biomedical technicians and engineers.

Campbell High in Ewa Beach recently began offering college-level courses designed to expose students to potential careers in STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — through hands-on learning and problem solving. In all, approximately 150 students are enrolled in courses across three disciplines: computer science, biomedical science and engineering.

An introductory course in computer science launched this past school year attracted 27 high school students, with 20 qualifying for college credits from partner institution the University of Iowa. More than 90 students have signed up for next year.

The classes are taught by Campbell teachers who complete training here and on the mainland through curricula provider Project Lead the Way.

School officials say exposing students to career opportunities early will help lead to good-paying jobs in high-demand industries.

“Industry says we need engineers, we need computer scientists, we need biomedical scientists. But if we’re not exposing our students to these kinds of careers we can’t fill the void,” said Campbell-­Kapolei Complex Area Superintendent Heidi Armstrong.

Given the high school’s large enrollment, with some 3,200 students, officials say it’s a challenge to meet the interests of all students. But programs like the STEM courses help.

“I think the engagement and hands-on learning are what captured our attention first and foremost,” Campbell Principal Jon Lee said of the curricula.

He recently approved a purchase order for sheep hearts and brains and cow eyeballs for the biomedical science course.

“You walk into the classroom and they’re constantly engaged,” Lee said. “Some of them are employable already.”

Students, meanwhile, say the courses help prepare them for the rigor of college coursework while allowing them to dabble in potential career fields.

Students who took the computer science course said they learned how to program computer and mobile games, build smartphone apps and design websites, while learning skills like teamwork and problem solving.

Campbell graduate Jazarey Carino, 17, completed the course and plans to pursue a career in radiology, where she hopes to work with computers.

“I wasn’t really good at computers before I got into this class, but everything I learned was interesting and I caught on fast,” said Carino, who’s enrolled in a medical assisting certification program. “I grew up around technology but I’ve never known this side of technology.”

David Tupper, 17, who had the second-highest grade point average of his graduating class, also completed the course. He earned a full tuition scholarship to the University of Southern California, where he plans to study computer science in the fall.

“One thing I learned from this class is that problem-­solving skills and troubleshooting is one of the key things in computer science,” Tupper said. “We’re getting to a point now where almost everything can be automated, but the troubleshooting and the human ingenuity and creativity is something that will be useful no matter what.”

Upcoming senior Keanu Gumayagay, 17, said while there were frustrating moments in the class — like designing a six-level maze game with a partner — he’s still determined to go into computer programming after high school.

Others, like Chadrach Gushi, 17, said they weren’t persuaded to pursue computer science. But Gushi credits the course for helping build his confidence to attend college.

He’ll be studying kinesiology at California State University at Northridge in the fall, with plans to eventually go into physical therapy. For his final project, Gushi designed and built a smartphone app that sends an automatic “busy” reply to texts when the phone’s user is driving.

Armstrong, the complex-­area superintendent, envisions expanding the program further into the neighboring elementary and middle schools to engage students even earlier. A sample engineering project at the elementary level involves designing and building a shade structure for a playground.