Southwest Technology Center recently welcomed approximately 200 sixth-grade students from school districts across Southwest Oklahoma for its annual Sixth Grade STEAM Day, an interactive event designed to spark curiosity and introduce students to careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEAM).
Hosted each year by Southwest Tech, Sixth Grade STEAM Day brings together education and community partners to provide hands-on learning experiences that connect classroom concepts to real-world applications. This year’s event included strong partnerships with Altus Air Force Base and Altus Public Schools, creating a dynamic and engaging day for students.
Altus Public Schools brought its highly engaging STEAM Bus, offering interactive activities that ignited curiosity and creativity among participating sixth graders. Southwest Tech’s Teacher Preparation program also played an active role by leading age-appropriate activities that encouraged teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
Representatives from Altus Air Force Base led students through interactive stations that showcased how STEAM skills are used daily in real careers, including wildlife tracking, recycling processes, logistics and shipping operations, and engineering challenges such as building and launching straw rockets using basic physics principles.
“Events like Sixth Grade STEAM Day are about opening doors and expanding possibilities for students at an early age,” said Christie Rogers, Director of Student Services at Southwest Tech. “By exposing students to hands-on STEAM activities and career pathways now, we are helping them begin to see how their interests can connect to future education and workforce opportunities right here in Southwest Oklahoma.”
Southwest Tech hosts Sixth Grade STEAM Day annually as part of its commitment to workforce development and early career awareness. The event is designed to inspire students, build confidence in STEAM-related skills, and introduce them to the wide range of career options available through CareerTech education.
The success of this year’s event reflects the value of collaboration between schools, community partners, and industry leaders in creating meaningful learning experiences for students.