Templeton watches as fifth-graders use a catapult to launch a mini-basketball and learn about levers.

Maria, a bright-eyed fifth-grader at Gabe Allen Charter School in the Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD), wants to be a doctor - a pediatrician, to be precise - when she grows up. Her classmate, Jacob, wants to be an engineer.

A TI-sponsored event in their schoolyard Tuesday helped reinforce their career choices and make them even more interested in math and science, they said.

"I enjoyed learning more about reflection and refraction," Maria said as she finished building a solar oven out of pizza boxes, tin foil and plastic wrap. The ovens were then placed in the sun, where they were left to cook fingerling potatoes. "They will cook at 250 degrees during the day."

A Morning of STEM
The solar oven project was one of several science projects organized for the students during the outdoor event called "A Morning of STEM in the Schoolyard." TI Chairman, President and CEO Rich Templeton hosted the first-of-its-kind CEO-led event at a Dallas school to encourage interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. The event was co-sponsored by the the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas (UWMD) and supported by two organizations who receive United Way grants for local STEM education programs – Real School Gardens and the Museum of Nature & Science.

Maria, a fifth-grader at Gabe Allen Elementary School in Dallas, participated in a learning event on May 15 called "A Morning of STEM in the Schoolyard." TI CEO Rich Templeton led and hosted the volunteer event, which involved CEOs and executives from Dallas-area companies. The outdoor event was sponsored by TI, the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Real School Gardens and the Dallas Museum of Nature & Science.

"This whole idea that strong companies build strong communities, and then in turn strong communities help make companies stronger really is the heart of what we believe in at TI," Templeton said. "It powers a lot of the things we do when we're out in the community.

"Certainly, our passion for technology and engineering is somewhat obvious by our background. But our society today is becoming more technologically sophisticated, and this focus on STEM education is critical, no matter what field students go into."

Watch/listen to a short a video clip.

Templeton not only hosted the "Morning of STEM" event, but he also rolled up his sleeves and coached groups of youths in science and technology experiments using machines from the Museum of Nature & Science. Templeton explained how catapults and levers work and demonstrated how they can propel small basketballs into the air. Then he let his volunteers launch the basketballs.

"The levers are part of our 'Nothing but Net' program that introduce simple machines and three classes of levers," said Dr. Jason Treadway, an educator in applied science at the museum. "It brings in mechanics, such as the movement of a person's arm shooting a basketball into the air, and experimentation and life sciences."

Templeton led experiments with 36 other CEOs, company executives and community leaders from the Dallas area, including; Ralph Babb Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Comerica Inc. and Comerica Bank and a member of TI's board of directors; Wayne Sanders, chairman of Dr Pepper Snapple Group who is also a TI board member; David Seaton, CEO of Fluor Corporation; Clint McDonough, partner for Ernst & Young LLP; and Timothy Wallace, chairman of the board, president and CEO of Trinity Industries Inc.

Other TI leader volunteers included: Paul Fego, vice president and manager of Worldwide Manufacturing; Greg Delagi, senior vice president and manager of the Wireless business; and Terri West, senior vice president of communications/investor relations/public affairs.

TI, United Way
Templeton was recently named was named the 2012-2013 citywide campaign chair for the UWMD. The agency is the largest non-governmental funder of programs to improve education, income and health in Dallas, Collin, Rockwall and southern Denton counties. The agency's United 2020 community goals include preparing 50 percent more students for success after high school, lifting 250,000 people out of poverty permanently, and improving health and quality of life across the region.

TI can make a difference by supporting schools like Gabe Allen Elementary, Templeton said.

"When I agreed to lead the United Way campaign, it was with the belief that we can make a difference," he said. "Your time here today and your people's time are a sign that you believe in this, and it really does matter. We appreciate it."

City of Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, who has been a strong advocate for improving education, thanked TI and other business leaders for their contributions to the community. "It makes your day to see these young kids excited about their future," Rawlings said. "We have a role to play."

Several Gabe Allen students said they were even more interested in math and science after the "Morning of STEM" event. A fifth-grader named Jacob said he felt inspired and encouraged by the event — and he felt special because the United Way and community leaders took the time to visit his school.

"There are so many mysteries in the world that I want to help solve. I want to be someone." — Jacob, a fifth-grader at Gabe Allen Elementary who wants to be an engineer.

"We're the first school to do this. It's pretty cool," said Jacob, who wants to be an engineer. "There are so many mysteries in the world that I want to help solve.

"Also, I want to be someone."

Jacob and his friends enjoyed an experiment that used potatoes to power solar calculators.

"I liked the potato calculator. We changed chemical energy into electrical energy," Jacob said.