Euclid High School became a hub for science, technology, athletics and community last week as the Euclid Schools partnered with STEM Playbook to host the first Euclid Game Changers STEM event.
The event welcomed Euclid's fall student-athletes, along with students, staff and community members for an afternoon of hands-on activities designed to demonstrate the connection between sports and STEM concepts and how they can combine in future careers.
Throughout the event, participants were able to rotate through interactive STEM Playbook stations that explored the science and technology behind athletics. Students tested their reaction times, experimented with the science of friction and traction, mapped drone routes, and analyzed athletic performances.
One activity used computer vision technology to turn participants into video game 
controllers. Instead of using a joystick or touchpad, students moved their bodies while technology translated their movements directly into gameplay, giving them an opportunity to experience how computer vision and motion-tracking technology can be used in games, athletics and other industries.
Behind each activity was an opportunity for students to connect their interests with potential pathways in sports that they may not have considered.
A fascination with statistics and strategy could lead to a role in data analytics. An interest in helping athletes perform and recover could become a career in athletic training or sports medicine. Students interested in technology could pursue software development, computer vision or drone operation, while an interest in sports equipment could lead to engineering and product design.
Not only was the afternoon educational, it also served as a celebration of the start of the upcoming school year. Carter's BBQ and Wright on Time food trucks were on site providing free food for attendees, while Amazon helped students prepare for the return to school by donating free school supplies.
STEM Playbook developed Game Changers around the concept that skills developed through athletics -- teamwork, strategy, problem-solving, communication and persistence -- can become valuable foundations for careers in science, technology, engineering and other growing industries.
Whether participants were testing their reflexes, discovering the science behind traction, controlling a video game with their movements, enjoying food or picking up supplies for the new school year, Game Changers offered something for everyone.
Most importantly, the event encouraged students to look at their skills and interests through a new lens. A passion that begins on the field, court or track today could ultimately help point a student toward a career they never knew existed or considered.
