CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Students from around West Virginia benefited from a classic no-lose situation: They played Minecraft, received recognition for it at the state Capitol and won prizes too.
It happened as Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin pronounced it to be STEM Day, which stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The Minecraft part was supposed to represent the fun aspects of learning. Minecraft is a blocky-looking computer game in which players create their own worlds.
In this case, the students created a new version of the state Capitol building or produced a replica of the current complex using Minecraft. They then submitted the results for judging.
“More than once this summer, I saw students exploring the Capitol grounds, taking notes and preparing for the hours they would spend creating their submissions,” Tomblin said. “Their efforts certainly paid off.”
Tomblin recognized winners and helped distribute more than $7,100 in gift cards to be used for educational purposes. Besides that, Microsoft provided a Surface Pro 4 to each of the top two winners in each category.
“We’re trying to help all students in K through 12 have a grasp of STEM, and Minecraft is an exciting and fun way to engage them in an early age,” said Anthony Roppa, a Microsoft representative.
One of the winners, seventh-grader Madison McCloud of Madison Middle School in Boone County, said a lot of work (and fun) went into her Minecraft creation. She said her creation took a bit over a month to complete.
“I came here with my family, we took all kinds of pictures of the Capitol and the I went home and got it done,” Madison said. “It was fun and hard.”
Governor Tomblin said incentives like the Minecraft competition are important to encourage students to embrace skills like science, technology, engineering and math.
“It’s important that we encourage our students to develop the skills and interests that build a foundation for future success in STEM fields — into college, training programs and careers,” Tomblin said.
Before that, Tomblin hosted a roundtable discussion with state and education officials, along with students, to highlight STEM.
“We know a STEM education is very important,” Tomblin said during that event. “We have made some real progress in the last four or five years.”
State Commerce Secretary Keith Burdette, who was one of those who took part in the roundtable, said 48,000 West Virginians are employed with STEM-related jobs.
“West Virginia is doing a lot of positive thins to advance the cause of STEM training,” Burdette said.
He said when he meets with potential investors in West Virginia, they are very focused.
“The No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 item they ask about is workforce,” Burdette said.
Employers who are already here want to make sure more skilled workers are being prepared, he added. He said those employers comment, “Keith, we love our workforce. We’re a little concerned about the bench.”
State Higher Education Chancellor Paul Hill commented that STEM degrees in West Virginia have risen by 12 percent in the past five years.
“Some of the opportunities out there require that STEM degree,” Hill said.
Echoing some of Burdette’s observations, Hill said investors want to know, “Where’s the nearest research university? Where’s the nearest community college?”
These students were recognized by Tomblin for their Minecraft projects: