Evanston Students on STEM

On May 19, students from ETHS (Evanston Township High School) and other high schools in Illinois presented at the Learning Exchange at the Motorola Mobility office in Chicago. This was the third year in which the Motorola Mobility office has facilitated the Learning Exchange, which matches groups of high school students with corporations and research institutions with the aim of spurring student interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields and careers. This was a statewide initiative by the Illinois Science and Technology Institute nicknamed the Research and Development STEM.

This was the first year in which ETHS students participated in the initiative. The Ten ETHS juniors and seniors where led by their teacher, Linnette Hill. Hill's students were paired with mentors from Deerfield-based Takeda Pharmaceuticals because of Hill's background as a nurse.

Takeda Pharmaceuticals offered the ETHS students the option of working on medication for patients diagnosed with either depression, obesity or diabetes. In an interview with Chicago Tribune Hill said, “The students selected depression partly because a recent city survey indicated that depression was a top concern for the citizens of Evanston.”

The students were asked to focus on the issue of medication adherence not as it relates to any specific medication but in general for all patients suffering from depression and who have been prescribed a drug to treat it.

This program allows students to use what they have learn in school to real world issues. ETHS junior Lesley Escobar, in an interview with Chicago Tribune said, “Working with my peers and mentors has boosted her confidence and deepened her commitment to pursuing a career in the health care field post high school.”

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has shown that jobs in STEM is the future of the economy. STEM jobs are projected to grow to more than 6 million between 2016 and 2022. Hopefully, Learning Exchange will continue to help student explore STEM.