In an empty studio room of the Clay Center in Charleston, West Virginia, Princeton Middle School students wriggle neon-colored ropes that coil and arc to the amusement of the youngsters.

It’s not all fun and games, though it looks that way from the smiles and giggles.

The students are getting lessons on gravitational waves and wave frequencies, courtesy of Science Behind the Sport at West Virginia University. It’s just one of many STEM-related activities for students from all across the Mountain State on NASA Day, sponsored by the NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium at WVU. The Consortium focuses on building research infrastructure and the promotion of STEM education in West Virginia. In 2024, NASA Day celebrated its 10th anniversary of providing community outreach through demonstrations and activities centered around the world of science and space exploration.

“That is the frequency of the wave,” an instructor told the Princeton students as they moved the ropes. “Don’t think too hard about it and create some waves, up and down and side to side.”

Since the inception of NASA Day, WVU has benefited from support of the NASA IV&V Facility in Fairmont, West Virginia. The Clay Center has served as an anchor partner for the event, as this year, students from dozens of schools around the state visited to experience hands-on science experiments, create STEM crafts and learn about Artemis missions.

“Our ultimate goal is to generate interest and excitement around science through sports,” said Andrew Hoover, program director of Science Behind the Sport. “Science can get a bad rap as being ‘boring’ and kids might think, ‘I’m never going to use this in my life.’”

Science Behind the Sport has developed activities around mountain biking, rock climbing, archery, paddling, skateboarding and volleyball, to name a few.

Elsewhere on NASA Day, inside a lab, Eric Lemley, program director for STEAM TAC at WVU, guided students through a hydraulic systems activity using syringes, water and a tube.

“We go into classrooms all over the state to do STEM-focused lessons and give teachers tools to continue where we leave off,” said Lemley, a former teacher and technology integration specialist in West Virginia public schools. “With this hydraulics activity, students are picking it up because they have the control and can iterate. It’s hands-on and we’re not just talking about it or showing a video.”

Melanie Page, director of the NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium, said, “When students from WV are given access to the same resources as others, they achieve amazing things and the NASA WV Space Grant Consortium exists to make sure that happens.” The Consortium’s programs focus on student fellowships, research, collaborations with industries, as well as K-12 and public outreach programs. And it prepares current college students for their future careers.

Emily Certain was one of those WVU students.

At NASA Day, Certain, now a NASA engineer, shared her journey with wide-eyed youngsters as the keynote speaker.

The Bay Shore, New York native began her college career as a theatre student. An internship with NASA helped change the trajectory of her educational journey.

She wound up earning a dual degree in aerospace and mechanical engineering at WVU while honing outreach skills through the Consortium.

Now she is a test engineer for NASA’s Exercise Robotics Division at Johnson Space Center.

“I was in so many dark spots when I was being told, ‘Don’t do this and don’t pursue that,’” Certain said about exploring NASA opportunities in college. “But Candy Cordwell (assistant director of NASA WV Space Grant Consortium) was literally my rock. She was so impactful to my whole journey and helped me find my way with NASA. It (the Consortium) was like a direct pathway for free. I’ve seen so many kids coming through the program with great experiences and outcomes. It makes me so happy.”

The Consortium offers college students opportunities such as one-year scholarships to serve as ambassadors to promote awareness and inspire interest and careers in STEM, undergraduate and graduate research fellowships, and financial support for placements as NASA interns.

“I believe in the power of education to open doors and help shape futures.” Cordwell said. “Despite Emily’s early challenges, she was a strong, determined young lady with much to offer. Helping her pursue a career in STEM wasn’t just about academic support but about showing her that her rough start doesn’t define her potential.

“Every step forward proves that resilience and passion can turn obstacles into opportunities for growth. In what we do at Space Grant, we are in a position to empower the next generation of innovators to create positive change in the world.”