On March 27, 2025, C.C. Spaulding Elementary School proudly hosted engineers and professionals from The Wooten Company for a dynamic STEM Exploration Experience with our 4th and 5th-grade scholars. This event brought classroom learning to life, showing students how science, technology, engineering, and math shape the world around them—and even introduced them to someone with a very special connection to our school community.
Students rotated through engaging stations that included:
Stormwater Management: Ana Wadsworth, Justin Bright, and Calvin Toland explained how civil engineers design systems to prevent flooding and manage water safely.
Electrical Engineering: Bob Egan and Reggie Powell taught students how electricity works and how it powers our everyday lives.
Energy in Motion: Gary Hartong and Thomas Madre led hands-on activities exploring potential and kinetic energy.
The day’s highlight? A thrilling fire hydrant demonstration led by Brian Oschwald, who showed how municipal systems can pump out over 2,000 gallons of water per minute. The students were amazed by the power and precision behind the infrastructure they see every day.
What made this day even more special was the participation of Reggie Powell, a member of The Wooten Company’s electrical engineering team—and the father of Assistant Principal Victoria Powell. His presence brought an added layer of pride and inspiration to the event, as students saw not only the possibilities of a STEM career but also the power of family legacy and community impact.
“I loved seeing my dad share his knowledge with our scholars,” said Assistant Principal Powell. “It was a full-circle moment—he's someone who inspired my love for learning and leadership, and now he's helping our students dream big about their own futures.”
Thomas Madre, one of the visiting engineers, shared, “It’s rewarding to see kids so full of curiosity and excited about these topics; they had a ton of great questions. Whether they go into STEM or not, understanding how the world works builds confidence and curiosity.”
Principal Dr. Vanessa Alford added, “This event is exactly what C.C. Spaulding is all about—connecting learning to the real world and showing our scholars what’s possible.”
At C.C. Spaulding, we are proud to partner with organizations like The Wooten Company to expand our students’ horizons—and even prouder when those partnerships include our own families.