iCREATE, the Division of Information and Technology, and the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching hosted a camp from July 9 to July 13 for 19 middle school students from the local community.

The camp was designed to teach the students about creative and innovative technology.

Campers used teamwork and communication to complete their activities.

Utilizing resources of the iCREATE lab, students used laser cutters, 3D print pens, spheros and other technology to engage in hands-on activities and learn about the concepts. Activities included a scavenger hunt, make your own lava lamp, and a mini Roth Regatta.

“Besides teaching, we focused on getting our campers to open up to each other and make friends,” said Sera Nakisli, iCREATE Outreach Coordinator. “We are an Inventors Camp but our activities were designed to improve and strengthen our campers’ teamwork and communication abilities.”

iCREATE provided a staff of student volunteers to help manage the camp and held it in their space in Harriman Hall. The lab provides the campus community with ideology and tools for technology innovation and creativity to further research and inspire the science, technology, engineering and math fields.

Read more: https://news.stonybrook.edu/oncampus/stony-brooks-first-icreate-inventor-summer-camp/

Over 200 kids were treated to free dental care at the Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine’s 11th annual “Give Kids a Smile” event on August 28.

During the four-hour event, pediatric residents worked with third-year dental students to treat the patients.

Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine students Aaron and Mackenzie Schleicher pose with Erika Larsen.

Underserved children ages 1 to 17 were given free dental screenings, cleanings, fluoride treatment, oral health education and an Island Federal Credit Union backpack filled with crayons and pencils just in time for back to school.

“There’s so many disadvantaged populations right here on Long Island, which is surprising to a lot of people. The event is really about giving back to the children,”  said Dental student Parandis Nejati.

At the end of the exam, each child was given the option to become a patient at the school where they can receive care from a dental student as well as a full-time dentist. The School of Dental Medicine has been hosting “Give Kids a Smile” events since 2002.

Read more: https://news.stonybrook.edu/alumni/school-of-dental-medicine-helps-to-give-kids-a-smile/

With food pantries now proposed as a requirement on all state- and city-run campuses, Stony Brook University’s food pantry heads proudly into its fifth year of feeding students struggling to balance the cost of an education and the need to eat.

And it’s students and the community at Stony Brook who make it all happen.

A student volunteer stocks shelves at the Stony Brook University Food Pantry.

Since opening, the pantry has served healthy food to about 4,100 patrons, averaging about 15-20 patrons a week.  Of those, about 75 percent are undergraduate students.

Today many people donate produce or money directly to the pantry, including student groups and campus offices which run food drives for the pantry, such as Students for Humanity and the Faculty Student Association. You can find a list of desired donation items on the pantry’s website

“Our pantry is entirely student-run. Our full community comes together to support it,” said Richard Sigal, co-director of the Stony Brook food pantry. “We really strive to build a relationship with those who visit so that they feel welcome.”

Read more: https://news.stonybrook.edu/university/five-years-on-stony-brooks-food-pantry-nourishes-and-sustains/