Augusta University raises more than $700 for Lake Forest Hills Elementary STEAM initiatives

Earlier this year, Augusta University raised more than $700 in support of Lake Forest Hills Elementary School’s silent auction event to fund the school’s science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) initiatives.

Amber Routh, communication lecturer for the Department of Communication in Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, coordinated several auction items that offered students at Lake Forest Hills unique experiences at Augusta University. Lake Forest Hills students were then allowed to bid on the items and all proceeds from the sales were donated to the elementary school.

Two of the biggest sellers were a tour of the television and cinema lab at Augusta University as well as an opportunity to learn about podcast production sponsored by the Department of Communication, and hands-on training with the basketball and cheerleading teams sponsored by Augusta University Athletics.

Routh said she thought the auction was a wonderful way to promote Augusta University while also supporting the local elementary school.

After the silent auction, four students from Lake Forest Hills won the opportunity to tour the TVC lab and see and touch the professional equipment and technology inside.

Timothy Williams, TVC lab supervisor and adjunct professor for the Department of Communication, led the tour while his student intern, Brionna Law, set the students up for the podcast.

“One of the big things that we really try to do, outside serving students at Augusta University, is to get the word out about our facilities to the community,” Williams said. “I think it is just a learning experience for all of these elementary students who are coming in.”

Parents accompanied their students on the tour of the TVC lab and were proud to be supporting their children’s interest in the field.

“The coolest thing is the different experiences that the kids get to have,” said Augusta Commissioner Sean Frantom, who is also the parent of 6-year-old Charles Frantom.

Sean Frantom said, because of his political career, his son often sees him on television, so he was curious about that profession.

“They’re cool,” said Charles Frantom, referring to the microphones in the podcast studio as he sat down and waited to use them.

All of the students were eager to get their turn inside the lab, and during the podcast, they shared their aspirations for their future careers.

Jerri Little, a fifth-grader at Lake Forest Hills, said she hopes to be a child psychologist.

“The way that the mind works, in general, is interesting,” Little said, adding that she hopes to help children as they are developing in life.

Aletha Kleinheksel, also a fifth-grader at Lake Forest Hills, said she is interested in several careers.

“I want to be a music teacher and an artist,” Kleinheksel said. “But most of all, I also want to be an actress.”

Learn more about how the Department of Communication is making an impact on the community.