2022-2023 Spark Intern Projects
Marie Meredith
Grade: 10
School: State College Area High School
This is my first year as a Spark Intern and I have had a great time working with other interns and staff on developing a project for this year’s Glow camp!
Glow campers for this summer will create modules using woodworking tools and 3D printing software (among other tools) that come together to make a model railroad exhibit. This railroad exhibit will feature key locations in State College and Bellefonte and will also be interactive!
Spark has given me many opportunities to work with kids and other interns and I have learned lots of new and unique things!
Angie Abraham
Grade: 11
School: State College Area High School
This year I worked on creating an educational program to help Middle Schoolers learn how to code.
My goal was to create a space where beginners could learn how to code in a fun and interactive environment. I also wanted to provide an opportunity for girls to get more involved with coding. The program uses Spike Prime Lego kits that allow kids to build and code robots using Legos and an iPad app. At the end of the program, students will have built and coded a robot that can guide itself through an obstacle course.
I have enjoyed working with the kits and I’m excited to see the program used in Discovery Space’s summer camps this summer!
Ally Duncan
Grade: 10
School: State College Area High School
This year, Carly, Nadine, and I wrote a summer camp that we then ran in early April. Our camp was focused on space and included activities that helped teach moon phases, shock absorption, and much more. As a group, we learned more about planning day camps and running them and got to see the behind the scenes at Discovery Space.
Sarah Huang
Grade: 12
School: State College Area High School
Hello Everyone! My name is Sarah, and I am currently a senior at the State College Area High School. I joined Spark my junior year because I saw this place as a way to connect with the younger generation of scientists and thinkers while learning hands on skills that will serve me in the future. My main job is to maintain and even design new exhibits to go onto the discovery space floor. Throughout my two years here, I’ve learned how to think and plan critically to ensure that my signage gets onto the exhibit floor in a timely manner. In addition, I’ve gained hands on experience with many of the tools in the woodshop at Discovery Space’s sister organization, the Rivet.
This year, I am working mainly on the botany exhibit, trying to make the showcase much more interactive than it currently is. I am currently working on something called a dichotomous key to complement the exhibit. A dichotomous key is like a treasure map, where you follow along with the characteristics of the plant to find out what it truly is!
Finally, what I’d like to say is that if you are someone who truly enjoys hands on work, brainstorming new ideas, learning how to problem solve and think on your feet, and most importantly someone who wants to contribute back to the community by uplifting children in STEM, give it a shot and apply here as a Spark Intern! It was a wonderful 2 years here and the multitude of skills I learned will serve me well in college.
Nadine Elliot
Grade: 11
School: State College Area High School
As a Spark intern this year, I founded a day camp called Extraterrestrial Explorers with a few other interns. All of the activities that were led at the day camp were centered on space. We constructed a wreath out of the phases of the moon and went on a scavenger hunt with a space theme to start the day. These kinds of activities were so much fun to think up, and it was wonderful to see the kids have fun while learning.
Derek Vones
Grade: 11
School: Penns Valley Area Highschool
Throughout my first few months as a Spark Intern, my main involvement was with fabricating and restoring exhibits. In addition to learning new machines and software in The Rivet which were not offered at my school, I could further develop a variety of skills. I learned how to create and apply vinyl designs while adding signage around the exhibit floor; repair circuitry for a generator exhibit and vortex exhibit; and improve exhibit strength, appearance, and safety to several exhibits.
It is my belief that learning is not always done through lecturing and assignments, it is an experience that could be provided numerous ways, each to suit someone different. This is the reason for my passion of working at Discover Space; it allows me to develop and restore the methods to give kids the experiences required for them to learn about STEM. Having involvement at Discovery Space is an important stage in becoming what I aspire to be in the future, as it could be for kids who visit our science center.
Kate Doucette
Grade: 12
School: State College Area Highschool
My Spark project this year was working on a design for a new model train exhibit that will be constructed by middle school Glow summer campers. I worked with a team of interns and Discovery Space staff to come up with a plan for the build, the landscaping, and the buildings that will be 3D printed for the exhibit. This experience helped me gain leadership and an understanding of what goes into creating a new exhibit and camp curricula.
I’ve enjoyed the past two years as a Spark intern and have developed new skills for my college application.
Jakub Flaska
Grade: 11
School: Penns Valley Area Highschool
This was my first year as a Spark Intern and the experience was truly enlightening. I first decided to join the Discovery Space team when they visited my Engineering Draft and Design class at Penns Valley High School. I became so enraptured during my initial visit that I decided to sign up on the spot.
I currently am a part of the Exhibit Team at Discovery Space. I repair, refurbish, and enhance exhibits that are on the exhibit floor. I perform most of my work in the Rivet’s wood shop. Some of the exhibits that I have worked on are the Pulley Game Exhibit, the Gravity Jump Game, and the Color Wheels. My internship here was an unforgettable experience and I look forward to being a part of the Summer Camp Team.
Emily Zhang
Grade: 12
School: State College Area High School
My project this year was to design marketing materials and signage to guide visitors through drop-in programs at the science center. I created the signs in Canva following brand guidelines, and formatted them for ease of use by young kids and their parents/guardians. Spark was a wonderful addition to my college application this year.
Kate Wellman
Grade: 9
School: State College Area High School
From September 2022 to May 2023, I was an intern at the Discovery Space of State College Pennsylvania.
Growing up, I always had a fascination in robotics and coding, and I think everyone should be exposed to STEM in some form. Whether it’s learning to use a table saw, or developing the skills to code with Python, STEM is what pushes us forward to create and discover. I am so glad that the Discovery Space provided me with the opportunity to help introduce kids to the world of STEM through coding. Me and another intern, Angela Abraham, worked to develop a course that teaches kids how to code with Python through Legos. It teaches them how to code interactive robots, as well as robots that can navigate their way through a maze. I, myself, through a lot of trial and error, learned more about coding with Python.
I hope through this camp that kids will discover a new passion for coding and robotics. Besides working with robots, I also worked with kids. I did volunteer in a day camp, but most of my work with kids was done during CEEL, an after school program. I got to help the kids with craft projects most of the time, and it was a lot of fun. CEEL really helped me with my communication skills with kids of all ages. I really grew as a person during my time with the Discovery Space.
Carly Erickson
Grade: 11
School: State College Area High School
This semester, I worked along with Ally and Nadine to design, plan, and lead a single day camp called Extraterrestrial Explorers.
We decided on a theme, space, and then planned activities and procedures around it. In the spring, we led a successful camp and had created a program that the kids enjoyed. I learned a lot through this experience, most importantly how to be patient, and work through issues that arise.
It was interesting to see the behind the scenes aspect of organizations like Discovery Space, and learn just how much goes into the planning process.
Kylie Edmondson
Grade: 11
School: Bellefonte Area High School
This year in Spark I helped plan and lead weekend drop-in events called ‘Discovery Days’ for visitors to the science center.
We had different themes each month for hands-on activities and experiments that visitors ages 4-10 could complete as part of their admission to the exhibit floor. One project I was in charge of planning was an Earth Day-themed activity. I created a lesson for the kids to make an ocean layers model with liquids of different densities. Then they could add Alka Seltzer tablets to observe what underwater volcanoes look like as it settled on the “ocean floor”.
I love science, and Spark is an awesome way for me to share this love with younger kids. It is a unique experience to be able to be part of the planning, prepping materials, and leading steps of the education process!
