CEAT K-12 STEM provides hands-on educational STEM activities.

CEAT K-12 STEM wins Citizenship in Leadership Award

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Media Contact: Desa James | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-2669 | desa.james@okstate.edu

The Oklahoma State University College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology K-12 STEM team is being recognized for its leadership impact on campus and the surrounding communities by the Hargis Leadership Institute on April 11.

The team will be awarded the Citizenship in Leadership Award at the President’s Celebration of Leadership. This event aims to recognize the significant leadership contributions made by OSU students, faculty and staff.

Throughout the academic calendar, the Hargis Leadership Institute solicits nominations for #LeadOrange to spotlight outstanding leaders. This campaign serves as a platform to honor individuals who epitomize the principles and practices outlined in the seven pillars of the Social Change Model of Leadership.

Led by Dr. Jovette Dew, the CEAT K-12 STEM team is made up of three full-time employees and several part-time undergraduate college students who go out into the local community and provide hands-on educational STEM activities.

Dr. Jovette Dew, Brandy Mays and Mary Tran work with several undergraduate students to provide K-12 STEM activities to students across Oklahoma.

"We believe engineering is everywhere in our daily life and that every teacher is a STEM teacher,” Dew said.

When asked what quote inspires the team, Dew responded with poignant words from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — “I guess that it is all right to tell a man to lift himself by his own bootstraps, but it is a cruel jest to say to a bootless man that he ought to lift himself by his own bootstraps.”

The team relies on grants, external funding and sponsorships for their outreach programs.

“We want to supply STEM boots so young boys and girls can have the opportunity to know what STEM and engineering is and how fun it can be,” Dew said. “We want kids to know that engineering is everywhere, and they can do it too. We want to reach all 77 counties in Oklahoma and spread STEM activities.”

CEAT K-12 STEM team travels statewide to spark a passion for different technical areas to students who might not realize how great they could be in STEM.

“Exposure is key,” Dew said. “How will they learn if no one teaches them? How will they learn about STEM if no one goes? We will go. Send us.”

To learn more about the work that CEAT K-12 STEM is doing, outreach opportunities and professional development, click here.