Youth embarks on unique STEM experience

SANDPOINT — At just 8 years old, Liam Bowen is heading to college.

It is only for six days, however, as the Northside Elementary fourth grader is taking part in a unique academic and career-oriented development experience through the National Youth Leadership Forum’s Pathways to STEM program at Northwestern University in Kirkland, Wash., this week.

“It’ll be cool to tell my friends that I went to college this summer,” Liam said in an email to the Daily Bee, adding that he is excited about the STEM camp because it is something he has never done before. “I really hope they’ll let us take home the robots we’re supposed to make so I can show my brother how it works.”

NYLF Pathways to STEM is in the Envision family of programs, enabling students to explore their interests and experience learning beyond the classroom. Since 1985, Envision programs have served more than 800,000 students in more than 145 countries, with programs designed to help students develop the leadership, scholarship and career skills needed to succeed in today’s competitive college and career landscape.

The camp starts today, running through July 11, with Liam joining elementary students from across the nation who will spend the week learning through hands-on simulations and workshops in various areas of science, engineering and medicine. Some of the projects include building a robot, dissecting a cow heart and learning about forensic science.

“I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up because there’s so many options,” Liam said. “Maybe this camp will give me some ideas.”

The camp is for elementary students who are nominated and invited to participate, and Liam was nominated by his third-grade teacher at Northside, Shantelle Gillis. Liam’s mom, Erika Bowen, said they are “blessed” that Gillis nominated him for the opportunity. While it’s not cheap to send him there for the week, Bowen said it is money well spent to broaden Liam’s knowledge base and get him around other kids who are excited to spend a week of their summer vacation learning “some really cool things.”

Liam, who turns 9 later this month, is described by his mom as “stinkin’ smart.” In taking the ISATs this past year, Liam scored a 99 percent for both math and literacy, she said, with the literacy tests indicating Liam is reading at a ninth-grade level. The family is also working with Liam’s principal at Northside on ways to expose him to a more challenging upper-level math course next year, while still keeping him in the same grade level as his classmates.

For his pre-program assignment, Liam was tasked with researching and writing about a famous individual who has made discoveries in medicine, engineering or criminal forensics. After visiting the Bird Aviation Museum last summer, Liam chose to write about Dr. Forrest Bird. With limited space provided for the assignment, he focused on a couple of Bird’s inventions, including the anti-gravity pressure suit regulator and the Babybird respirator.

“His inventions changed history and saved millions of lives,” Liam wrote.

It is not just academics that occupy Liam’s time. He is also an altar server at St. Joseph and takes piano lessons every week at Bella Notes. He recently finished playing baseball with the Sandpoint Little League AA Division as a pitcher for team Orioles. Liam also loves to draw and read, his mom said with an emphasis on “love.”

“He’s an amazing artist,” she said. “He has a passion for learning and wants to understand the meaning behind everything and why something works the way it does, not just take it for granted. I think that is why he likes building robots and math so much. It makes sense to him to figure out how each part functions and adds up to the whole.”

Liam also enjoys raising the family’s chickens, ducks and turkeys, as well as exploring nature.

“Liam is not only just stinkin’ smart,” Bowen said. “He’s so sensitive and caring, too. He’s the first to help lend a hand and is always willing to share and give hugs or just listen when a person talks. He’s going to do amazing things in life.”

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.