STEM events unite creating one big day of activities expected to draw thousands

Storm The Citadel and Charleston STEM Festival, Feb. 11 on campus and at Brittlebank Park

Students, teachers, mentors, families—and even Google and Uber—are preparing for what is expected to be one of the biggest single-day STEM learning celebrations in the Southeast on Feb. 11. Storm The Citadel, an annual event attracting dozens of teams from across the state and beyond, will be held on the same day as the annual Charleston STEM Festival. The festival, which The Citadel helped found, is just down the street from campus and is now a collaborative event with many partners. The combined activities, competitions and interactive exhibits are expected to attract more than 5,000 people.

“Storm The Citadel was co-founded by Google, which sponsors the event. The Citadel STEM Center of Excellence has also been a longtime partner in the Charleston STEM Festival,” said Jennifer Albert, Ph.D., director of The Citadel STEM Center of Excellence. “We believe bringing it all together provides the maximum impact for the many area schools and families benefitting from these events, further energizing the enthusiasm for STEM learning.”

Special guests at the events will include Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg and local dignitaries, Lowcountry television meteorologists, and cadet jumbotron hosts, as well as Google’s own band of barbarians—professional engineering enthusiasts who attend Storm The Citadel in costume each year providing demonstrations with their giant trebuchet during the barbarian-level competitions.

Google will also be demonstrating Google Cardboard which is a viewing device enhancing virtual reality (VR) experiences on VR apps and games, including 360-degree videos. Google will be making a 360-degree video of Storm The Citadel during this year’s event.

Transportation with Uber and shuttle (Uber discount code for first time users CHSSTEM17)

To assist with transportation, Uber has agreed to ensure attendees have access to safe, convenient and affordable rides to and from the events. A free shuttle will also be moving visitors from venue to venue. To access a virtual map of The Citadel campus, please click here. For directions and parking for the Lowcountry STEM Festival, please click here.

STORM THE CITADEL SCHEDULE*

Trebuchet competitions (medieval-style launching devices; various sizes)

• 8 a.m. Opening ceremony, Summerall Field (#4 on virtual map)
• 8:50 – 11 a.m. Hoplite (K - 5) competition
• 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Centurion (6 - 12) competition
• 12:30 – 2 p.m. College/corporate competition
• 2 – 2:30 p.m. Barbarian demonstrations
• 3:30 p.m. Awards ceremony

Bridge building and robotics competitions

• 8- 11 a.m. Buyer Auditorium, Mark Clark Hall (#9 on virtual map)

Water bottle competition

Middle and high school teams worked in their classrooms to design compressed air water-bottle launchers and rockets and will then use them competition day to see which rockets travel furthest down the field.

• 11 a.m. – noon Summerall Field

CHARLESTON STEM FESTIVAL SCHEDULE*

• 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Festival (exhibits and performances)
• 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Food truck rodeo – see the list of trucks that will be onsite here
• 11 – 11:30 a.m. Opening ceremonies with Mayor Tecklenburg; WCIV-TV meteorologist Dave Williams

*For the complete schedule please click here.

Media information

Media is encouraged to attend and cover both events. Parking is first come, first served, or may be arranged through a media contact:

• Storm The Citadel event-day media contact: Stanton Adams (843) 475-0596, sadams5@citadel.edu
• Charleston STEM Festival event-day media contact: Darren Prevost, (843) 367-0996, lcstemcollaborative@gmail.com

About The Citadel STEM Center of Excellence

Storm The Citadel is the largest of several STEM events that take place at The Citadel throughout the year. Learn more about the STEM Center of Excellence here.