The occasional squeak of a rubber sneaker could be heard on the wood floor of the Marie Curie STEM Elementary School gymnasium in Pasco, Wash., March 12. But the 300 kids on the basketball court weren’t shooting hoops. They were taking part in USA fleet member Energy Northwest Women in Nuclear’s annual Kids Engineering Day, an annual event to get kids interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Judging by the turnout, Desiree Wolfgramm, regulatory compliance supervisor and KED coordinator, said the event gets more popular every year. “This year was the best KED yet,” Wolfgramm said.

At the first Kids Engineering Day in 2013, WIN had 15 booths with three companies partnering with Energy Northwest. This year children had the opportunity to visit 30 booths representing Energy Northwest, Washington River Protection Services, AREVA, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Bechtel, and Richland, Kamiakin and Delta High Schools. Three organizations also set up exhibits: Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement, Hands in for Hands On, and Mid-Columbia STEM.

Sheri Kurtz from Nevada, visiting family in the Tri-Cities, brought her three grandchildren to the event.

“This is a great way to get children energized about science and demonstrates science is fun,” Kurtz said.

Many EN employees volunteered to help make Kids Engineering Day a success. “The event could not happen without all of the amazing volunteers who donate their time to help children become excited about STEM fields,” Wolfgramm said.

Alex Javorik, vice president for Engineering, and Denise Brandon, plant support engineering manager, from left to right assist Alina Bleazard, Jaxon Hargrow, Bridget, Thomas and Caleb Bleazard with snap circuits during the Kids Engineering Day March 12. (Anna Markham photo)