STEM, real life application

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cody Dowell
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – --  The 97th Air Mobility Wing hosted a science, technology, engineering and math fair, Nov. 17, for more than 130 students and 20 teachers from local schools.

The fair gave 5th grade students and teachers the opportunity to connect with Airmen from different careers fields allowing them to learn how STEM applies throughout the Air Force.

“In the local area Altus Air Force Base is the only place that the students are able to tour,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Mary Stanton, 97th Training Squadron flight commander. “Altus AFB is an ideal one-stop-shop for a career fair due to the great availability for varied uses of STEM in multiple workstations.”

The fair gave a unique opportunity for the students to tour and learn about the different duties of Airmen on base.

“The fair opens the students' eyes to different careers that they did not know had STEM uses,” said Stanton. “The career fair demonstrates varied uses of STEM subjects and helps motivate the students to study and prepare for their state testing.”

The fair not only gave the students a chance to learn about the base, but also gave them a day to have fun.

“The kids have been really excited about seeing everything and being able to see things that they didn’t realize the base accomplishes,” said Brad Southall, Arapaho-Butler Elementary School principle. “This is a sharp group of students and they definitely are enjoying and valuing the things they are learning here.”

The STEM fair wasn’t only beneficial to the students to learn more about the base, but it was beneficial to the Airmen allowing them to provide insight to others about their daily duties.

“The fair allowed the Airmen on base to have pride in their work and careers by being subject matter experts in various tasks,” said Stanton. “Showing the core value of service before self by demonstrating why it is important for students to continue their academic studies, especially in the STEM subjects.”

The STEM fair allowed students to be educated by Airmen explaining their career fields and learning how STEM applies throughout the Air Force.