For two weeks, our LACS Middle School students had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with eleven Korean students in grades 5–8 through a special STEM exchange organized in partnership with Applied Computing Foundation (ACF).
Each morning, mixed groups of Korean and LACS students worked together on coding, micro: bit, and engineering challenges led by ACF’s Brian Loeswick and his team. One of the highlights was an egg drop engineering challenge, where students designed protective devices using limited materials and tested them by dropping them from the bridge between Peterson Hall and the gym. The excitement (and suspense!) made for a memorable morning.
In the afternoons, our Korean guests shadowed LACS 6th–8th graders in their classes, experiencing daily school life here. Beyond academics, students connected during recess and shared two special Friday lunches, one featuring tacos and the other a delicious Korean meal. Our guests also presented slideshows about Korean culture and even taught us a K-pop dance.
While language differences presented occasional challenges, they didn’t stop friendships from forming. Students bonded over STEM projects, chess games, P.E. workouts, and shared meals. Many of our Korean guests shared how much they appreciated experiencing a school environment that blends academics, athletics, and extracurricular opportunities.
This exchange was about more than STEM; it was about collaboration, cultural understanding, and building global friendships. We are grateful for this partnership and proud of how warmly our LACS students welcomed their new friends.
These two weeks will certainly be remembered.
