STEM Action Center unveils new tool to drive kids' interest in sciences

A new vehicle will soon hit the road, trying to steer Utah youngsters into certain career fields.

The Utah STEM Action Center last week unveiled the Utah STEM Bus, which will serve as a mobile classroom highlighting science, technology, engineering and mathematics and expose students to STEM education and build their passion for a possible STEM-related career. Its mission is to build STEM talent to support Utah’s workforce needs.

The center transformed a donated Utah Transit Authority bus through a $1.5 million grant last year from Andeavor (formerly Tesoro). It was unveiled at the Utah Capitol.

“We are excited to partner with Andeavor to take STEM ‘on the road,’” said Tamara Goetz, the center’s executive director. “The demand for the Utah STEM Bus is overwhelming, and we are working hard to reach all of the students that are eager for STEM experiences. Andeavor has been the spark that encouraged other companies to join our team, and we are grateful to everyone for their commitment to Utah students.”

The vehicle is designed to introduce real-world, hands-on learning experiences to students, parents and educators and reach geographical areas that may have limited STEM opportunities. Its classroom curriculum includes robotics, 3D printing, renewable energy, videogame design and computer programming. The center piloted the program curriculum to more than 3,000 students at 21 schools this year, and there is a waiting list for bus visits.

The STEM Action Center works to develop Utah’s workforce of the future by prioritizing STEM education. The program drives research and implementation of STEM education best practices across Utah by coordinating STEM-related activities, creating and coordinating proven STEM education best practices, facilitating educator access to those tools, and aligning public STEM education and higher STEM education activities.

“We are proud to support the Utah STEM Action Center and its mission to further develop a STEM-competitive workforce,” said Brian Sullivan, vice president of corporate affairs for Andeavor and president of the Andeavor Foundation. “By investing in the STEM Bus, we hope to increase students’ awareness, interest and understanding of STEM-related concepts and careers, as well as provide valuable training opportunities for teachers across the state.”

“We are happy to support the STEM Action Center with the donation of a retired transit bus,” said Jerry Benson, president and chief executive officer of UTA. “We know very well the importance of a workforce skilled in science, technology, engineering and math. We’re glad to see this bus start its second life as a mobile classroom and hope to see some of these students working in high-tech bus and train systems at UTA in years to come.”

In addition to Andeavor, contributing organizations to the bus program include UTA, the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, IM Flash, Adobe, Comcast, Hill Air Force Base, MHTN Architects and Shell Oil.

“We appreciate the generous support of local companies and organizations that have stepped up to join this statewide initiative,” said Allison Spencer, director of the Utah STEM Action Center Foundation. “Partnerships like these help students gain awareness for career opportunities they might never know existed. Businesses that get involved enjoy a great ROI; they increase the chances of these students coming back and filling jobs in the future.”