CEAT K-12 Outreach Academy to be funded by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Full STEM Ahead award.

Full STEM Ahead award to fund CEAT K-12 STEM Outreach Academy

Friday, February 9, 2024

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

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education has awarded Dr. Jovette Dew, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology director of outreach programs, and her team the Full STEM Ahead award.

The funding from OSRHE will bring the CEAT K-12 STEM Outreach Academy to fruition. This academy will work with 6-8th grade students during afterschool programs providing hands-on instruction and activities to foster an engineering mindset.

STEM activities provide students with the ideal conditions to learn about leadership and teamwork through engineering design principles. Lessons delivered by the academy will teach the importance of cooperation, division of labor and accountability.

K-12 students enjoy STEM activities at OSU. — K-12 students enjoy hands-on STEM activities.

The goal for the academy is two-fold: ignite enthusiasm for STEM among students attending under-resourced and underperforming middle schools in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, and to engage their families by offering resources and information. These two steps can be what keeps students moving along a pathway to a STEM career, said Brandy Mays, STEM K-12 outreach operations manager.

Once the academy has sparked the students’ interest in the STEM field, it will extend its support to assist them in their next steps. ACT/SAT prep, scholarship information, and other post-secondary educational options will be provided to the students.

“Exposure to STEM learning in a fun, interactive environment will teach and present projects that are impactful to capture the kids' minds and imaginations and be applicable to Oklahoma’s needs,” Mays said.

“This program is a pilot program and new to the university and OSRHE. We hope that CEAT K-12 will be able to continue to expand and grow these programs in the future. This academy will promote and build relationships with the Reed Community Foundation out of Tulsa, and the Oklahoma City Center located in Putnam City. Partnering with these agencies will only strengthen the relationships with our Oklahoma communities and students to continue to build a pipeline of students that may one day attend Oklahoma State University and CEAT.”

CEAT’s K-12 DoD STEM program provides several other opportunities to students and teachers in the surrounding area. Learn more about camps, professional development and resources here.