Carson students show off technology, science skills

Seven years ago, Lisa Stocke-Koop opened up her Carson Middle School classroom to a science and technology night where her students and their parents could participate in hands-on activities and see community demonstrations.On Wednesday, Stocke-Koop, now at Eagle Valley Middle School, hosted a districtwide Science and Technology Night in conjunction with the Carson City School District Science Fair, with 32 presenters from throughout the community. “It has been really exciting to watch it grow,” she said. “I'm jazzed beyond words.”Winners from each of the elementary schools' science fairs were on display, as well as hands-on presentations in science, technology, engineering and math. Among the presenters was Carson High School Fritz Steinle, 15, explaining his work in his computer-aided drafting class. “We design everything, then we can print the prototypes in plastic,” he said. The program at the high school will prepare him for his planned career as a robotics design engineer and a software development design engineer. “I would use the CAD program to work on the overall design of the robot and the individual gears and every component of said robot and how they would all fit together,” he said. “You can design anything on CAD.”He said he appreciates that the school offers technology and skilled courses. “I would die without those classes,” he said. “They are the greatest classes in the world. They helped me find what I want to do with my life.”Carson City science fair winners will advance to the regional competition held at the University of Nevada, Reno.