WORTON — Kent County Public Schools celebrated Engineering Week Feb. 20-24, with one highlight being a field trip for middle schoolers.

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, a cohort of Kent County Middle School eighth graders visited the high school.

The nearly 45 students on the trip are in the middle school's Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) Program.

Three sessions were organized for the students. Two of the sessions featured special guests: engineers from Dixon Valve.

There was "Chat with an Engineer" in Aundra Anderson's Next Generation Scholars classroom. Students met Shakar Herod and Craig Sandie, two engineers from Dixon Valve who explained what their jobs are like. Students also talked about their own career aspirations.

Just down the hall, two more Dixon Valve engineers, Mariah Eastburn and Luis Lara, set up a challenge for the STEM students to complete.

The students were given two cups, several pieces of paper and some tape. The task: build a bridge between the two cups that could hold the most weight.

One team completed a bridge that was capable of holding three full bags of Tootsie Pops.

"We're grateful to have a partnership with Dixon to create these mentoring and networking events," Anderson said. "It's important for students to realize the immense opportunities that exist in their backyard."

Kent County High School engineering teacher Brett King welcomed the eighth graders to his Career and Technical Education (CTE) classroom.

There they watched as seniors presented their projects: pirate-themed miniature golf course holes the students got to try out.

Anderson thanked King and his students for sharing their projects with the middle schoolers.

"It was great to give eighth grade students a preview of Kent County High School and a CTE classroom experience," Anderson said. "They were all very interested to see high school students."