Magic Moments
Kathy Walsh, Founder · Summer 2009
As a science teacher of 20 years I have discovered that it is important to create
what I call “magic moments.” Magic moments are exciting experiences that students have when they
have had an active role in discovering something new about themselves and what they could accomplish.
Magic moments occur when students are deeply engaged and connected to what they are learning. These are
the kinds of experiences that make lasting impressions and may influence the direction they take in the
future. In 2009, I founded Youth Engineering and Science to share my magic moments with children in
underserved neighborhoods in Philadelphia. In order for our organization to grow sustainably, we are
expanding to include enrichment for individuals and organizations throughout the Main Line. Your
participation in our high-quality STEM learning experiences helps support our core mission.
How Youth Engineering and Science Came About
Summer 2009
At an early age I introduced my children to science and engineering. My daughter,
Sarah, grew up knowing how to build and launch rockets, solder electrical circuits and raise chicks
from eggs. I will never forget Sarah coming to me with a group of her neighborhood friends requesting
that I take them on a stream safari in the local creek. The neighborhood children were so excited to
explore the stream fully equipped with waders and nets. I have always encouraged Sarah to put her
experience to use, letting her know that she could lead these kinds of activities for other children.
One day Sarah came to me and asked if she could do just that.
In 2009, we found two organizations with which to partner. More community partners
followed. We became registered as a 501(c)(3) organization in 2012, and the summer of 2014 marked our
6th year of serving the community. Seeing the transformation in confidence in Sarah inspired me to
develop an internship program. That internship program has grown to include 12 high school and college
interns in 2014.
“Stand and Deliver”
Kathy Walsh · Summer 2010
The limits of our educational system often simply cannot provide the kind of program
that is necessary to get students excited about, and engaged in, learning science. I am passionate
about bringing quality programs to students who would not otherwise have these opportunities. I love
the movie Stand and Deliver, about Jaime Escalante, a technician at an electronics factory who
went into a second career as a math teacher and inspired his students to do well on the calculus AP
test, which many thought impossible. What inspires me about his story is that he saw a need and found a
way to make change by just doing it and making it happen.
We all recognize that many students don't have a quality education in the STEM fields
in this country, especially in underserved communities. These students have a need and so do we.
Sputnik and the space race inspired a generation of Americans to pursue education and careers in
science and technology in the 1950s and 1960s. Much has changed since then, and it is a growing
concern that the United States, once a leader in STEM, is now outperformed by many other nations. STEM
education programs are available but most minority children are not benefiting from them. In order for
them to have access, we need to bring the programs into the neighborhoods where the children are. I
hope my organization, Youth Engineering and Science, Inc. will bring in funds so more people can make a
difference and we will “stand and deliver” magic moments for many more children.
