Life of an Ambassador

Hi everyone! My name is Lillie McCarver. I am a Junior Biology major at the University of Memphis at Lambuth. I joined the West Tennessee STEM Hub team as a STEM Ambassador last semester. I am actually one of the first Ambassadors on the Lambuth campus in Jackson, TN. This has provided me with the amazing opportunity to be a part of building the STEM program on our campus. Other Ambassadors and leaders from the main campus have been incredibly helpful and supportive, making this start-up such a fun process.

My role as a STEM Ambassador includes involvement in a variety of activities. The most consistent responsibility that I have is working in the Lending Library. This is located in the on-campus library at Lambuth and contains all different types of STEM kits. There are kits catered to all ages that can be checked out by teachers and staff from schools in the area. They include all kinds of activities, from coding robots to launching rockets. This provides a great opportunity for grade school students to get involved in STEM before entering college. My job in the Lending Library is to make sure that each kit is in working condition after it is returned from check-out. This way, getting kits to teachers goes as smoothly as possible.

Another great opportunity I have as a STEM Ambassador is getting to work with teachers and students in the area. I am able to help teach students about STEM by helping them with hands-on activities, often using kits from the Lending Library. For example, I was able to visit North Side High School with a professor and a fellow student to teach other students how to use micropipettes. Another activity I have been involved in is preparation for the VEX Robotics competition at Arlington Elementary School. It is so encouraging to see how interested students of all ages are to learn about STEM. Teachers in the area are so welcoming and always make us feel very appreciated.

So far, being a STEM Ambassador has been an amazing opportunity for me. It fits in perfectly with my class schedule and keeps me involved in activities that relate to my interests. I have so much fun working with the kids and have made many connections with other people in STEM. I hope to see more STEM Ambassadors join the team at Lambuth soon and can’t wait to watch this program grow!