OCCC recently hosted OCCC STEM Day, bringing together middle school students, faculty, alumni and community partners for a dynamic day of exploration, learning and inspiration.
The event marked the successful culmination of the Oklahoma City Innovation District-funded “OCCC Future STEM Innovators Academy,” an initiative designed to introduce students to college-level STEM education. This initiative represents a collaborative effort between the Science, Engineering and Mathematics Division and the Business and Information Technology Division.
According to SEM Dean Susmita Hazra, principal investigator of the grant-funded project, the academy welcomed 20 to 30 middle school students, primarily eighth graders from F.D. Moon Middle School, to the OCCC campus each Friday over the course of a six-week period. The students were accompanied by their STEM teacher, Lulla Wilson. Transportation was provided at no cost by Alpha Community, ensuring access for all participants.
For many students, this program offered their first opportunity to experience a college environment. Throughout the academy, participants engaged in introductory sessions across a variety of disciplines, including engineering, biology, computer science, mathematics and astronomy. The program aimed to spark curiosity, build confidence and help students envision future academic and career pathways in STEM fields.
The success of the academy was made possible by the dedication of OCCC faculty and staff across multiple disciplines. Contributing faculty and staff included: Zachary Austin (astronomy); Kimberly Park, George Risinger and Robyn Senter (biology); John Claybon (business and information technology); Rebecka Finney, John Goulden, Haifeng Ji, Sara Mathew and Jon McHenry (computer science); Greg Holland (engineering); Rachel Neher (geology); Chris Oehrlein and Beth Rawlins (mathematics); and Mikaela Chen (SEM).
The final session culminated in the OCCC STEM Day celebration, welcoming approximately 80 students from fifth through eighth grade, all from F.D. Moon Middle School. The event opened with an engaging alumni panel, where former OCCC students shared their career journeys and responded to student questions.
The panel featured distinguished alumni, including Sara Gohar (nurse), Dr. Kia Golmoradi (physician), Cedric Green (computer scientist) and Shelby Webb (aerospace engineer).
Each speaker emphasized the importance of perseverance, mentorship and hard work in achieving success. Webb discussed overcoming challenges in rigorous courses such as thermodynamics and fluid dynamics, while Golmoradi highlighted how OCCC’s affordable tuition and smaller class sizes supported his academic journey. Panelists also credited faculty mentors for guiding them through difficult coursework and helping them stay on track. Students were actively engaged, asking thoughtful questions about job responsibilities, workplace challenges and the most rewarding aspects of careers in STEM.
OCCC’s student involvement played a vital role in the event’s success. Volunteers from the astronomy club and engineering club, including Bobie Johnson and Jurithsi Rojo, assisted with organizing activities and moderating discussions, helping create a welcoming, interactive and inspiring environment for all participants.
In the afternoon, the event concluded with an exciting STEM Magic Show led by Dr. Ann Nalley and Dr. K.D. Priyasantha from Cameron University. The interactive chemistry demonstrations featured luminescent reactions and small-scale experiments using everyday materials, sparking both excitement and curiosity among students. The presentation was not only entertaining but also inspiring, motivating some of OCCC’s astronomy club and engineering club members to consider leading similar outreach activities in the future.
With strong participation and overwhelmingly positive feedback, the OCCC Future STEM Innovators Academy clearly demonstrated the value of early exposure to STEM education. Through initiatives like this, OCCC remains committed to expanding opportunities for students to explore STEM fields and develop their potential as the next generation of innovators.
