A Westwood Elementary student works with a CEAT student on STEM activity.

Google donates $200K to CEAT STEM outreach initiatives and student projects

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Media Contact: Kristi Wheeler | Manager, CEAT Marketing and Communications | 405-744-5831 | kristi.wheeler@okstate.edu

Google recently donated $200,000 to the Oklahoma State University College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology to spark and develop students’ interests in STEM related fields of study and careers.

This gift marks another chapter in CEAT’s partnership with the tech giant and a continued investment in OSU’s current and future students. The donation will be equally divided among STEM outreach activities and senior design projects.

“Donations like this from Google are very impactful on both ends of our student spectrum,” interim CEAT Dean John Veenstra said. “It enables CEAT to further stimulate interest of future students in the challenges of STEM and engineering, as well as enhance the capacity to showcase the developed skills of CEAT seniors who are solving challenging problems in their senior design projects.”

Westwood student — A Westwood Elementary student works with CEAT student to create a windmill using items found in the classroom.

Half of the donated funds will aid CEAT’s STEM outreach programs by funding STEM symposiums in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, engineering summer camps around the state and family oriented STEM events for students and parents. These outreach efforts will target K-12 students and provide fun, engaging and educational environments for those students and their parents to learn more about STEM fields and the crucial roles they play in society.

The other $100,000 will provide funding for CEAT senior design projects. Each year, engineering students are tasked with a senior design project, showcased at an annual Senior Design Expo. These students are asked to solve a real-world problem by using a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach aimed at cultivating skills that will translate beyond the classroom.

Google’s support will cover the costs of multiple projects and help develop the problem solvers of tomorrow.

“Oklahoma State University College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology’s STEM outreach initiatives broaden access to programs that empower students and prepare them for success,” Google’s Head of Public Policy and Community Development Andrew Silvestri said. “OSU is extending opportunities for Oklahoma students ranging from hands-on, introductory programs for elementary students to programs for seniors that build real-world skills. Investing in expansive STEM education will reap positive benefits across the state.”

Both the K-12 STEM outreach efforts and the senior design projects play pivotal roles in CEAT and OSU’s ability to fulfill its land-grant mission. These initiatives provide Oklahoma students — through instruction, research and Extension — the tools to serve their communities by providing solutions to the challenges of tomorrow.

“Oklahoma State University is advancing STEM across our state by inspiring the next generation of leaders through its K-12 outreach and empowering our university students and researchers to tackle real-world problems,” U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas said. “Filling the pipeline of skilled and in-demand professionals in fields like engineering, aerospace and energy will lift our state, spur innovation and improve lives. Innovative work like this is critical if we want America to remain the world leader in science and technology.”