The East Allegheny School District’s STEM Showcase returned this year, marking a special milestone as it brought families and community members together for a hands-on, immersive exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The STEM Showcase offered a vibrant opportunity for attendees to discover the world of STEM education. With about 250 attendees, the event was filled with various activities, displays, and demonstrations. Families, students, and community members explored hands-on experiences, from engineering problems to the practical use of STEM concepts in the real world.

This year’s STEM Showcase stood out with two exciting additions: the Immersive Reality Room and the ActiveFloor. The Immersive Reality Room offers an interactive, cutting-edge experience where attendees explored STEM concepts in virtual environments. Meanwhile, the ActiveFloor combines technology and movement, promoting active learning in STEM education.

Engaging with STEM Activities

Attendees were treated to a variety of interactive displays that showcased the breadth of resources, STEM fields and career paths. Some of the highlights included:

• PACS (Pittsburgh Area Community Schools), which demonstrated the full-service community schools model, integrating academic, social, and health services.
• The Math Festival, offering a hands-on approach to understanding complex mathematical concepts through fun, engaging activities.
• Robotics and VexIQ, where students showcased their technical prowess in designing, building, and programming robots.
• Ozobot Hockey, a creative twist on coding, where participants controlled mini robots in a game of hockey.
• Surface Tension Activities, helping attendees understand the vital role surface tension plays for engineers across various disciplines such as environmental, chemical, and civil engineering.
• Spaghetti Tower challenges, offering a practical demonstration of civil engineering principles as participants attempted to construct the tallest, strongest tower with just spaghetti and marshmallows.
• UPMC Women in Tech, an inspiring initiative that aimed to encourage girls to pursue STEM careers in technology, a field historically underrepresented by women.
• Forbes CTC, which highlighted Career and Technical Education opportunities for East Allegheny students, demonstrating the connection between hands-on learning and future careers.

Additional hands-on activities included mini golf, bicycle spin art, and Kindergarten STEM binds, where younger students had the chance to explore basic engineering and design concepts.

Exploring Career Pathways

The STEM Showcase also highlighted career pathways and opportunities in STEM fields. Local organizations such as Alcosan, which provides wastewater treatment services, and the Allegheny County Park Rangers, who represent conservation efforts in the region, were on hand to showcase how STEM skills are applied in real-world professions.

Other notable participants included UPMC McKeesport, the Air Force, and the Turtle Creek Valley Rotary, who shared their expertise and offered career insights for attendees interested in diverse STEM-related fields.

A Focus on Lifelong Skills

The skills that students gain through STEM experiences at events like the STEM Showcase are invaluable. These activities provide students with critical problem-solving, teamwork, and creative thinking skills—skills they can apply not only in their future careers but in their everyday lives. Regardless of the career paths they eventually choose, the knowledge and experiences they gain from STEM education are universally valuable.

The East Allegheny School District is committed to fostering an environment where curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking are encouraged, and this year’s STEM Showcase was a perfect example of that dedication. We look forward to seeing how this event continues to grow and inspire future innovators in our community.