Alpha Academy Mentor Program: December Session Highlights

On December 13, 2023, the Alpha Academy Mentor Program hosted its monthly session, welcoming over 50 mentees at 9:00 AM. This session centered around the theme of personal finance, commencing with a collaborative workshop titled “Let’s Talk About Money.” The event brought together elementary, middle, and high school students for a shared learning experience, complemented by a breakfast of Wawa sandwiches, snacks, and beverages to create a welcoming atmosphere. The workshop provided foundational money tips and practical financial advice, followed by an engaging Financial Jeopardy game that encouraged active participation in key financial concepts.

The chess session featured approximately seven elementary school students who began with a PowerPoint presentation on the history and origins of chess. Following this introduction, participants tested their knowledge through a Kahoot! game, answering twenty questions in a fun, competitive format. This interactive approach fostered a safe environment for students to take risks and learn from mistakes. The session culminated in hands-on chess games, allowing students to apply their knowledge and enjoy the game. Their enthusiasm was evident as they unanimously chose to continue with chess in the upcoming January session over other options.

During the Pinewood Derby session, students focused on finalizing their car designs, which will be crafted by Bro. President. Mentors guided them in translating creative ideas into precise, buildable designs, emphasizing the importance of using grid paper for accurate side profiles and top-down views. This session effectively balanced technical instruction with collaboration, as students actively discussed design choices and shared ideas, reinforcing foundational engineering concepts such as planning, measurement, and visualization.

The Drone Concepts session began with hands-on flight practice, allowing students to operate drones and develop precision skills. New participants received a brief orientation on drone components and basic flight techniques. Mentors noted significant improvements in student confidence and control throughout the session. Following the flight practice, teams reflected on their experiences at the recent Aerial Drone Competition, expressing enjoyment of the event. A programming review segment allowed students to explain their flight routines and discuss potential improvements. To encourage ongoing learning, each student was assigned follow-on tasks to complete additional Blockly tutorials in preparation for a more in-depth programming discussion in January.

The high school mentees concluded the session with an extended Financial Education Workshop led by SECU Bank, a valued partner of Alpha Academy. Despite technical challenges that necessitated a shift from hands-on activities to a presentation format, the workshop effectively equipped students with valuable knowledge about saving, budgeting, and investing. This session provided high school mentees with actionable insights that will empower them to make informed financial decisions as they transition into adulthood.

Overall, the December session of the Alpha Academy Mentor Program not only reinforced critical skills in personal finance, engineering, and technology but also fostered a sense of community and collaboration among the participants.