STEM Education and AAPI on the Gulf Coast
The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) Executive Director Holly Ham and Senior Advisor Debra Suarez recently joined the HSU Educational Foundation for a ‘Community Convening on STEM Education and AAPI’ at our headquarters in Fort Walton Beach, FL. The forum brought together over 65 leaders and community members from across the Gulf Coast of NW Florida representing a host of diverse educational and organizational backgrounds, all of whom shared a common interest in progressing student interest, access, and achievement in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
AAPI educators and students alike shared from their experiences exploring STEM from a non-traditional approach through hands-on learning with platforms such as the newly launched Drone Team Challenge program. Students demonstrated how they were excited to learn about programming a quadrotor UAV to follow flight commands autonomously during a recent week-long STEM Camp. Development of this educational program by the HSU Foundation is supported through a grant by the Air Force Research Lab and utilizes UAV technologies to teach software, mechanical and aeronautical engineering concepts to students at the elementary to high school level. By supporting this and other competition programs such as CyberPatriot, FIRST Robotics, and Odyssey of the Mind, the HSU Educational Foundation plans to create a culture in the region that inspires STEM exploration from a young age. Much of their success rests on the involvement and sponsorship of area businesses and subject matter expert volunteers, many of whom are AAPI members in the community.
The forum included technical experts and CEOs from companies who share challenges experienced finding enough STEM qualified candidates to fulfill talent needs and grow their businesses. Representatives from the Okaloosa Economic Development Council, the Technology, Manufacturing and Engineering Network (TecMEN), regional Chambers of Commerce, Okaloosa-Walton CareerSource, the Okaloosa School District, Florida District 4 Representative Mel Ponder and the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners all contributed ways in which the region is working to collaborate as partners, optimizing partnerships and connecting resources to produce transformative solutions.
Ms. Holly Ham’s presentation highlighted WHIAAPI’s central focus areas within the administration’s strategic plan for improving the lives of AAPI citizens, with an emphasis on business and job growth and building a STEM skilled workforce, especially encouraging more Americans to pursue Career Technical Education through certifications, apprenticeships and non –traditional degree pathways.
The following day, a tour was provided of Eglin Air Force Base, with an overview of base operations and the emphasis of STEM related research and technological expansion happening rapidly in support of the national defense mission. Eglin is the largest U.S. military installation and the Gulf Coast is home to a wide array of military operations. This tour opportunity revealed the experience of AAPI citizens living and working within the sphere of a military community, often transitioning from base to base apart from a close connected cultural center.
During the base tour, Ms. Ham had an opportunity to meet with AAPI members serving active duty and civil service roles on the base and discuss topics ranging from community heritage activities to minority advancement to what resources are available for making the smooth transition from active duty service to a commercial industry setting.