by Krystal Paco

Guam - What was a construction site just months ago bustled with energy today as George Washington High School students put their projects using science, technology, engineering, and math concepts on display. It's a nationwide initiative to increase student performance in math and sciences and it's working at GW High.

At today's STEM Expo students applied their knowledge - launching rockets using hairspray, making smoothies using solar energy, and even giving free hand massages as part of a reflexology lesson to feel better without medication. STEM education at the Mangilao campus follows months of ARRA-funded renovations to the school's B-Wing, resulting in double session for first and second quarter where upperclassmen attended classes in morning hours and freshmen in the afternoon.

As anatomy and physiology teacher Gregoria Rondilla reports her classroom is much more efficient. "We have technology of course we have the interactive board the elmo we have our own projector for every classroom we have laptops for every students and it's a great way to help students keep up with the current trend of education," she said.

GW senior Daniel Ramos says stem has opened his eyes to other fields of work. Today, he applied his STEM know how to educate on a disease affecting many Guamanians - diabetic retinopathy. In his "Eye Adai Diabetes" presentation, he gives viewers a simulation of the disease. "It's a disease in the eye that's caused by diabetes it has a rupture in the blood vessels when you get diabetes basically the symptoms are you have blurry vision you have blood clots so when you see you have tiny dots in your eyes," he explained.

He thanks leaders for implementing STEM at GW, but hopes in the future they'll give stakeholders more say in the decision making process. "The STEM program has helped not only me but all the students here at GW, some of us we don't really know what to do in the future so taking the STEM classes it can help guide us for what we need in college and help us get a better idea of what we want to do in the future,' he said. "I wish they gave students more options that they would give us more of a say on our schedule."

The Expo is open to the public and continues through 7pm tonight.