ASU event prepares high school students for STEM careers

STEM Career Accelerator Day is a national effort by STEMconnector and its STEM Innovation Task Force to encourage students to pursue STEM careers through an experiential field trip to a major company or university sites.

Arizona State University will host two events with corporate partners Honeywell and Tata Consultancy Services from 8:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m., March 18, for educators and students in grades 9-12 on the Polytechnic campus; and from 6:30-8 p.m. for parents at the new ASU Chandler Innovation Center.

The event’s mission is to highlight the possibilities unleashed by education and innovation in the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) by providing students, their teachers and parents meaningful experiences with companies and organizations that provide career paths in those specialized fields.

The goal of the day nationally is to personally engage 500 students in all partner facilities and virtually engage an additional 5,000 students to inspire persistence in STEM coursework and related careers.

“We’ve joined this national movement that encourages STEM discovery so that we can show high school students and their parents how exciting and rewarding a degree or career in STEM can be,” said Mitzi Montoya, ASU’s vice president and university dean of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

The event will include a field-trip experience for students and teachers. Each student will participate in a hands-on STEM activity in one of the labs at the ASU Polytechnic campus. Keynote speakers from ASU and partnering companies Honeywell and Tata Consultancy Services will address attendees about their personal experiences in STEM-related fields.

“Computer science and technology have the power to transform businesses and unlock amazing career and earning opportunities for our country's youth. Innovative cross-sector efforts such as the STEM Career Accelerator Day are critical to inspire students, and inform parents and educators about the rewarding potential of a STEM career,” said Balaji Ganapathy, head of workforce effectiveness of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). “At TCS, we believe in empowering students to realize their potential, and creating tomorrow's STEM leaders today by building pathways from education to careers.”

"Honeywell is committed to inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers. Programs like these give students an opportunity to experience hands-on STEM activities and open their eyes to the possibilities of a career in STEM,” said Bob Witwer, vice president of advanced technology at Honeywell Aerospace.

Parents looking for more information on what STEM is, how their child can prepare for future STEM workforce and the potential of STEM professions can attend the evening session to hear professional insights from local leaders in the industry, as well as receive tips on college and career readiness for STEM fields. Attendees can also receive a tour of TechShop Chandler, a membership-based, do-it-yourself workshop and fabrication studio.

Event information:

STEM Career Accelerator Day:
When: 8:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m., March 18
Where: ASU Polytechnic campus
Register: http://bit.ly/1ffU7IE
Questions: 480-727-1895

Parent Information Evening:
When: 6:30-8 p.m., March 18
Where: Chandler Innovation Center
Register: http://bit.ly/1bPuBtB
Questions: 480-727-1895