A new engineering program based in Scottsdale is enrolling students aged 10 to 13 to learn technical skills while addressing local community needs. Known as Student Projects through Engineering & Community Service, or SPECS, the initiative accepts participants from across the valley. The curriculum focuses on the engineering design process, requiring students to create and build solutions for real-world problems they identify in their surroundings.
Karen Martinson, a former clinical research specialist and STEM educator with 20 years of experience, founded the program under OmniSTEM Ed+. She stated that the initiative was created to help students disengage from screens and become active in STEM fields. Martinson noted that many children become interested in science once they begin handling tools and building projects.
She described the hands-on approach as a constructive alternative to screen time, aiming to teach students how to think through complex situations regardless of their future career paths.
The program utilizes a team of eight professional mentors with expertise in diverse fields such as aerospace, healthcare, software development, and civil engineering. Three high school students, including one junior and two seniors, also serve as peer mentors. Alfred Carstens, an aerospace engineer with 40 years of experience, acts as the lead mentor, while peer mentor Aleksandr Jakob serves as the lead solutions manager.
Classes are currently held in rented lab space at Mountainside Middle School. Students meet for two hours every Saturday to work within two distinct groups. The Discovery Team focuses on foundational skills, including tool safety and converting ideas into tangible projects.
