STEM Program

To register for the STEM Program, simply click the 'Register Now' link to create an account on our secure registration platform, Sport Connect. Once your account is set up, you’ll be able to complete your registration and reserve your spot in the program.

Our STEM Program

We were delighted to launch our brand-new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) program at the Henrico Police Athletic League in October 2021, sparking young minds to explore STEM and STEM careers. STEM is more than just a blending of core content areas, it is a way of approaching challenges in today’s society with a spirit of creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and clear communication.

This program has been brought to us by the sponsorship of Altria Group, Inc. and Meta.

HPAL will be exploring STEM with all of our students on a weekly basis through investigations in engineering, coding and robotics, and more.

To open the doors of opportunity for our youth, we must provide them with experiences, in both formal and informal settings, to explore best practices in STEM, and the pathways to pursue STEM careers.

STEM FACT 1

Did you know that according to the the U. S. Department of Commerce, STEM occupations are growing at 17% annually, while other occupations are growing more slowly at 9.8%?

STEM FACT 2

In addition, in 2018 the U.S. Bureau of Labor revealed that the median income for U.S. STEM workers was $84,880 per year, well above that of non-STEM workers who earned a median wage of $37,020.

Linda Armwood

STEM Coordinator
stem@henricopal.org
Dr. Linda Armwood, STEM Coordinator, brings a wealth of experience to benefit the Henrico PAL scholars! As children participate in STEM activities, they will expand their knowledge related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics concepts, as well as, STEM careers. All experiences will be minds on AND hands on! Critical thinking through problem-solving, making connections between themselves and their natural environment, and developing innate curiosities and creative abilities will support the learning through play of our HPAL scholars!

Vincent Hughes

STEM Coordinator
stem@henricopal.org
Mr. Hughes has over 25 years of experience in the area of STEM education. He has served as an instructor at the United States Space Academy, located at the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. His service extended into working at the Math Science Innovation Center from 2015 – 2020. In 2013 he was selected as the Air Force Association National Aerospace Teacher of the Year (Second Runner Up). His certifications are in Career and Technical Education, Earth Science, Middle School Science Instruction, holds a Bachelors Degree in Biology and a Masters Degree in Science Education.
His philosophy towards young people learning is “You can, I will show you.”

Carroll Ellis

STEM Coordinator
stem@henricopal.org
Carroll H. Ellis, Jr., has worked as an Earth and Environmental Science educator in classroom settings, and supervised student research projects in environmental science. With more than 20 years of experience in Richmond Public Schools, Mr. Ellis has also worked for 13 summers as an instructor for the MSI-Richmond Program STEM Academy at the University of Richmond. During the summer of 2025, Mr. Ellis worked as a STEM Instructor for the HPAL Summer STEM Camp. Mr. Ellis earned a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Virginia State University and a Master of Science in Geoscience from Mississippi State University. “This is the only Earth we will ever know…study it, understand it, and protect it. – CHE

Colette Roundtree

STEM Coordinator
stem@henricopal.org
Colette Roundtree has worked as a STEM educator in several capacities, as a classroom teacher, advisor for student engineering teams, and camp instructor. With 30 plus years of teaching experience, Mrs. Roundtree has captured students’ hearts and won several teaching awards. Mrs. Roundtree worked as a STEM Instructor for the 2025 HPAL Summer STEM Camp and teaches science at a local homeschool cooperative.

Tavi Berger

STEM Coordinator
stem@henricopal.org
Tavi Berger is a current computer science student at VCU with a passion for STEM education through art & play. She has spent time working with children in a variety of roles, as a coding instructor, piano teacher, and swim instructor. She has worked as a coding instructor at HPAL Summer STEM Camp during 2024 and 2025. Her goal when working with children is to engage them in STEM using their interests to bridge the gap. She is especially passionate about making computer science education accessible & showing children that coding can be fun!