VALDOSTA — Westside Elementary School students did more than play with robots during the Tech/Coding Exhibition. 

Third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students coded to a crowd of Westside employees, other students and parents. Using laptops and iPads, students made robots move and created Google sites.

Cynthia Flowers, a gifted teacher who has been with the Lowndes County Schools for more than 25 years, planned the event to showcase what her students have been learning and to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) jobs.

“Technology is changing the way we do things everyday and logically affects the jobs of our students’ future,” Flowers said.

They were even able to bring a special guest, Washington Redskins linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons, to greet kids and see their work.

A former Lowndes County Schools student, Harvey-Clemons went to the University of Georgia and University of Louisville before joining the NFL. He brought signed mini footballs to the kids who participated in the coding event.

“Given the opportunity to do this can take you a long way,” Harvey-Clemons said. “It’s something we weren’t taught at this age, and this school system is evolving. The kids are on another level as far as the things they’re doing.”

Typically, a fifth-grade event, the exhibition was expanded to third and fourth graders this year.

Shelly Collins, a parent volunteer, said growing the event is exactly what these students need to eventually be part of the workforce.

“For them to be introduced to this at such a young age, it’s amazing,” Collins said.

Katelyn Umholtz is a reporter with the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256.