STEM STARS: CADY MCPEAK

Editor’s note: This is the seventh installment in a Midland Daily News weekly series called “STEM Stars,” which features local secondary students who are Chief Science Officers (CSOs). These students, in grades 6-12, serve as STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) ambassadors and liaisons for STEM opportunities in their communities.

This week features Cady McPeak, an seventh-grader at Northeast Middle School.

When and why did you become a Chief Science Officer?

I became a CSO at the end of my sixth-grade year. I became a CSO because I want to help the school.

What does it mean to you to be a CSO?

It means you will help immerse STEM around the school. For example, I will do that by reading announcements to the whole school and also put up posters. It matters because not everyone might know about STEM.

What do you enjoy about being a CSO so far?

I enjoy talking with other CSOs at meetings.

What is your action plan?

Our action plan is recycling. We will continue encouraging more people to recycle more because in our school we don’t recycle very much. The former CSOs of Northeast helped me learn about how I and my other CSO can continue this: for example, by making a certain routine for picking up recycling bins, and by putting more recycling bins in the lunchroom.

What first got you interested in STEM?

My mom is a science teacher.

Why is STEM education so important?

STEM is involved in so many different things.

What are some aspects of STEM that you feel many people aren’t aware of or don’t understand?

There are many careers that involve STEM, like being a doctor, engineer, construction worker. A few that surprised me were an accountant, a biochemist, and a technical writer. I was surprised to learn that being a writer can be a STEM job because I didn’t used to know how it could be related. I know that an accountant can be a part of STEM because it involves math. Also, a biochemist involves science.

What do you like doing in your free time?

Playing sports.

What are your career aspirations?

To become a doctor.

What person or people inspire you and in what way?

My aunt is a nurse, and going through the pandemic made me want to help others.