BUILDING OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES TO MOTIVATE AND INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION IN STEM
Abstract
The Building Outreach Opportunities to Motivate and Inspire the Next Generation in STEM (BOOMING in STEM) initiative will help address acute STEM workforce needs in the Charleston, South Carolina region by leveraging existing college and community and resources to create new engagement experiences. Clear pathways for students to explore STEM options and train for STEM careers will strengthen and expand the regional talent pipeline and help address the need for well-trained, diverse employees in fields such as advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity, critical DoD priorities. Project goals: 1) Build a clear STEM workforce pathway that begins with engagement for youth and connects them to relevant coursework in K-12, TTC Continuing Education, and TTC academic programs, internships with Joint Base Charleston (JB CHS) and Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic, and apprenticeships with TTC and local industry, and then guides interested students into baccalaureate and graduate programs 2) Serve military-connected students by providing engaging outreach activities and by strengthening the STEM resource infrastructure and activities at Joint Base Charleston’s Child and Youth Center 3) Broaden the participation of underserved and rural communities through partnerships and outreach opportunities 4) Create sustainability through project activities and relationships with educational, community, and industry partners TTC proposes a multi-faceted and community-based approach to increase the number of individuals entering STEM careers, building a clear pathway from initial interest to engagement opportunities to coursework that leads to employment. Project staff will work with partners to create this educational pathway, which will use engaging STEM activities to immerse K-12 students in learning experiences beyond the four walls of school. Project staff will offer STEM outreach activities to military-connected, rural, and disadvantaged youth, will work with the JB CHS Child and Youth Program to support STEM programming, will offer both a Manufacturing Institute and Continuing Education coursework to teens, will share information with youth and teens about internship and apprenticeship opportunities, as well as STEM and DoD career opportunities, and will educate youth and teens about the educational requirements for STEM careers and help connect them to educational opportunities. The proposed BOOMING in STEM project will address the National Defense Education Program (NDEP)’s aim to “maintain a robust pipeline of STEM talent by investing in pre- kindergarten through undergraduate STEM activities.” Focusing particularly on youth from 7-18, the proposed project will improve the capacity of TTC and the Charleston area to motivate students through impactful STEM educational experiences. Through these experiences and through meaningful collaboration with educational, community, and industry partners, students will be inspired to pursue careers in critical STEM fields. The BOOMING in STEM project will help prepare the future DoD workforce to meet defense challenges in alignment with DoD and Federal STEM Strategic Plans.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 09, 2021
- Source ID
- HQ00342010042
Entities
People
- Marshall Connor
Organizations
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- Trident Technical College
- Washington Headquarters Services