Ilitch Companies Host STEM Visit for Elementary Students

Tech United is a dedicated group of chief information officers and IT professionals from local enterprise companies working with United Way for Southeastern Michigan to help close the digital divide and increase STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) opportunities for students. Since its inception, the group has raised more than $423,000 to support technology access and distributed 1,209 devices to students in our region.

Most recently, Tech United created Learning Journeys, an interactive learning experience designed for fifth grade students to explore future Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) career opportunities. Ilitch Companies, Little Caesars and the Detroit Tigers baseball operations team hosted pilot sessions on January 14 and 16, engaging 90 students from Stevenson Elementary School in Southfield at the Little Caesars Global Resource Center and Comerica Park. Stevenson is one of four United Way Community Schools where they offer wraparound support for students and families.

During the Learning Journey, students were treated to a tour of the Little Caesars Global Resource Center and Comerica Park, participated in a pizza box folding competition, and got to learn more about the science of food and technology in the pizza industry. Students met with the engineers that run the Pizza Portal and witnessed how the Little Caesars team uses technology to build the ordering app that allows customers to order from their phones and grab their pizza from the Pizza Portal in-store.

Excited students got to see the sauce being made and take part in a taste test. They also participated in a coding exercise where they could make a bracelet or necklace using binary code.

“This is the coolest field trip I’ve ever been on— well, this and Greenfield Village,” said Sofia Childress, a 10-year-old student at Stevenson.

At Comerica Park, students had a behind the scenes experience to learn how technology is used to coach players and to create a world-class fan experience. Six members of the baseball operations team shared videos and examples of advanced statistics and computer modeling to aid in player performance feedback. Students observed from afar the offseason construction and video board technology, shared ideas about how technology is used to improve the in-stadium entertainment experience.

“Seeing every single STEM job in one headquarters was just amazing for the kids,” said Melanie Land, community schools coordinator at Stevenson Elementary. “The math with the baseball diamond and the science with the pizza, it brings the kids full circle as to why their education is important.”

Learn more about United Way’s efforts to expand youth opportunity in our region here.

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