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BLAST Institute Brings Aggregates to Life for Teachers
Bringing Life to Aggregates: a Summer Teachers’ Institute — BLAST 2024 was a success again this year!
The BLAST Institute is a week-long, hands-on workshop specially created for K-12 science educators in Indiana to immerse them in the aggregates industry and expose them to activities that demonstrate the importance of aggregates in everyday life.
Fifteen teachers from all over the state of Indiana joined us in Bloomington during the week of June 24 – 28, 2024. Polly Sturgeon with the Indiana Geological and Water Survey, along with a number of other IMAA members, volunteered their time to make the week of BLAST a fun, meaningful, and unique learning experience for the teachers who were able to participate.
From an IU Campus walking tour, to dining around Bloomington, to the field trips to member locations – teachers were educated on the aggregate industry through unique hands-on experiences.
At the beginning of the week, we asked teachers to respond with three words regarding their thoughts when they heard the word “mining.” Their responses varied, with several stating “drilling,” “minerals,” “dirty,” and “blasting.” At the end of the week, however, when teachers were asked the same question, their responses changed to include “career,” “safety,” “family,” and “reclamation.”
The BLAST Institute proved once again to be successful in providing great professional development for the teachers, with applicable lessons that they can take back and implement directly into their classrooms. IMAA and its volunteers were able to create industry ambassadors throughout the week through networking and education about what the aggregate industry actually entails.
Shout-outs
We would like to thank the following tour locations for hosting BLAST field trips: Heidelberg Cement in Mitchell, West Side Tractor Sales in Bloomington, Rogers Group Bloomington Quarry, Milestone Asphalt, VCNA Prairie Sand & Gravel, and IMI Concrete.
Thank you as well to all of our volunteers, as we could not make this event a success without your generosity and support:
- Board President Brian Duncan, Irving Materials, Inc.
- PIE Committee Chair Cory Collins, MacAllister Machinery
- WLMA Committee Chair Kim Grose, VCNA Prairie Material
- Juli Tincher, Rogers Group, Inc.
- Laresa Ingram, Rogers Group, Inc.
- Laura Rains, VCNA Prairie Material
- Jon Havens, Irving Materials, Inc.
- Dan O’Connor, Q4 Impact Group
- Beth Bayless, West Side Tractor Sales
- Shawn Hahney, Phoenix Global
- Jason Recker, Vibra Tech
- Chuck Palmcook, Quick Supply Co.
And last, but definitely not least — thank you to the companies that Sponsored a Teacher this year:
- IMI Aggregates
- VCNA Prairie Material
- Rogers Group, Inc.
- US Aggregates
- Mulzer Crushed Stone
- Rieth-Riley Construction Company
- Edw. C. Levy Co.
- Sauls Seismic