First Annual STEM Supper Brings 100 CREEK Scientists Together

Over 100 Indian Creek students, faculty, and families came together at the Patuxent River 4H Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, on Friday, September 7, for our first annual STEM Supper. Hosted by senior Will Morrisse, this evening of fun gave Upper School STEM students and their families a time to connect and discuss common interests outside of school.

Morrissey opened the event with a welcome and a challenge to support both Indian Creek School and the STEM community.  He spoke of making the dinner an annual event, before passing the 'organizing' torch to junior Sean Lonergan for next year.  Next, Will introduced the  keynote speaker Fred Tutman, an eighth generation Marylander who serves as the Patuxent River Keeper. Prior to founding Patuxent Riverkeeper in 2004, Mr. Tutman operated a business that provided professional media and mass communication services internationally. He worked as volunteer activist on the Patuxent for over 20 years until the momentum of the volunteer environmental work overcame his media career and the challenge of Riverkeeping beckoned. A recipient of numerous awards and recognitions for his work on behalf of environmental causes and issues in Maryland, he also serves on a variety of Boards, Task Forces and Commissions related to the work of protecting the Patuxent and the natural environment. Among them, Mr. Tutman serves on the Board of the Environmental Integrity Project, as a Governor appointed Commissioner on the State's Patuxent River Commission and on the Board of Waterkeeper Alliance, the international group that licenses Waterkeepers. Mr. Tutman is an adjunct instructor at historic St. Mary's College of Maryland, where he teaches an upper level course in Environmental Law and Policy. He also is an avid kayaker and backpacker, and also helps to maintain trails on the Appalachian Trail.

Also included in the evenings agenda was a student led small group session. STEM students Ally Snead '19, Ford Smith '19, Liam Lonergan '19, Annabelle Derrick '21, and Adam Bizri '19 to speak on a variety of STEM topics: Posters and presentations, internships, SGA, Mu Alpha Theta (the national math honor society), and the Indian Creek Mathletes. STEM Director Mr. Stephen Roth also spoke with parents and students about STEM opportunities across the curriculum and how student engagement and community building is an important part of the Indian Creek culture. 

This event was the first in a planned STEM speaker series that will further look at the intersection of science and social change as a theme for this year. 
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Indian Creek school is a co-educational, college preparatory independent school, located in Crownsville, Maryland.  Students in Pre-K3 through grade 12 receive a vibrant educational experience based on excellent academics steeped in strong student-teacher connections.