Sugar Land - Missouri City Edition | August 2022

NONPROFIT

2022 EDUCATION EDITION

Get involved STEM-E Youth Career Development Program oers several opportunities for students interested in careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and entrepreneurship as well as professionals working in these industries.

“THE ONE THING THAT I WANT TO CHANGE THROUGH STEME IS THIS IDEA THAT THESE KIDS CAN’T DO WHAT ADULTS CAN DO,

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: Students can get hands-on professional experience in a virtual environment. AMBASSADOR PROGRAM: Students create STEM-E clubs on their own campuses. MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: Groups of students are matched with adult professionals. TUTORING PROGRAM: Volunteers provide free tutoring for students of all ages. ACADEMIC JOURNAL OF STEM RESEARCH: Students can have their research edited by peers and published at www.aj-stem.com.

AND CLEARLY THEY CAN.” ANDRIA BALOGH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The nonprot fosters students’ interests through collaboration. (Courtesy STEME Youth Career Development Program)

STEME Youth Career Development Program Organization prepares youth for careers in STEM, business A ndria Balogh has 14 years of experience in biomedical research and knows rsthand those interested in careers in STEM are not

BY DANICA LLOYD

JOIN THE DISCORD SERVER Students can collaborate and discuss their interests in a monitored forum. www.discord.com/invite/R9NKY7rjTj

SOURCE: STEME YOUTH CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

STEME Youth Career Development Program

and entrepreneurship. STEME was created with underserved students in mind. Programming is free to students and is funded by grants and donations. Initially, it hosted in-person workshops, hands-on activities, speaking engagements, career fairs and laboratory days. “A lot of STEM programs are about just getting [students] in and doing fun stu, but for us the bigger picture was, ‘What does this look like as a career?’” Balogh said. “[But] ... when they get to college, they may not like it, and even when they start the career, they may not like it. That’s because of a lack of [reality in] the way STEM is actually presented, what it’s like to actually do that job day in and day out.” The pandemic forced in-person activities to move online, and STEME began to extend its reach. From there, an internship program launched to help students get professional experience from home. STEME interns are logging volunteer hours and gaining experience in areas such as data analytics, programming, website development, videography, blogging and podcasting.

832-304-3404 www.steme.org

always taught soft skills, such as communication, project management, team building, marketing, budgeting, writing and teaching. “These professional business skills are critical to success in STEM even though they’re not taught in school, and you don’t really learn about it,” she said. Balogh earned degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Cali- fornia in Los Angeles before returning to Houston to work in the Texas Medical Center. When she launched her rst business, Tutoring with Andria, she was inspired to get her Master of Business Administration from Rice University. To help ll the gaps between what students learn in school and what they will experience in the professional world, Balogh conceptualized STEME Youth Career Development Program in 2017. The nonprot increases access and exposure to careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics

Balogh said her focus is now on growing the internship program as well as an ambassador pro- gram in which students start STEME clubs in their schools. STEME also has a tutoring program, helps students publish their research and oers a Discord server where students can collaborate. A mentorship program will launch by September to give students the opportunity to be mentored by professionals. Balogh said STEME is always looking for adults to volunteer their time and invest in future STEM leaders. Balogh is also working to bring educational programming to other countries, starting with Uganda. She said the program will adapt to t each country’s needs. “The one thing that I want to change [through] STEME is this idea that these kids can’t do what adults can do, and clearly they can,” she said.

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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • AUGUST 2022