STEAM Ahead Inspires Students to Explore Portsmouth Site Careers

Waverly Intermediate School students work with Waverly High School seniors Jersey Osborne and Landon Swindler, at left, using paint and a salad spinner to learn about centrifugal force.

PIKETON, Ohio — Bringing together third grade students, high school mentors and interactive learning stations proved successful to introduce students to a wide range of career paths at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Portsmouth Site.

The site’s STEAM Ahead program recently finished its sixth year providing area students with unique learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering, art and math. This year’s program included five school districts in two counties, 20 classes and more than 400 students. An estimated 1,500 students have participated in STEAM Ahead since it started in 2021.

“Providing this opportunity to schools in our community has been a great way to help students not only discover possible career paths, but get excited about learning,” Acting Portsmouth Site Lead Jud Lilly said. “Many of the teachers have expressed how much they look forward to this being part of their curriculum now.”

Waverly High School senior Lilly Ramsey helps students put engineering principles to use by building structures with paper and straws. More than 20 high school students participated in the inaugural mentorship program through STEAM Ahead.

This year, STEAM Ahead launched a pilot program at Waverly City Schools to incorporate junior and senior high school science students as mentors with their own hands-on learning stations.

“The program was a success for both the older and younger students,” said Waverly Science Teacher Daniel Sand. “The older students learned responsibility and the importance of setting a good example for the younger students, and the third graders enjoyed interacting with the older students and seeing how the kids they usually see playing sports or in musicals are also interested in science.”

Plans are underway to integrate high school mentors in the other school districts next year.

“Adding more mentors is key to expanding the program to new schools,” Portsmouth Site Strategic Planner Greg Simonton said. “This year, mentors from the Portsmouth Site provided hands-on activities with engineering, critical thinking, problem solving, welding, geography, the importance of clean water, centrifuge technology and electricity.”

State and local partners also took part in STEAM Ahead. The Ohio State University, Ohio University, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Pike Soil and Water Conservation District, and Pike County Solid Waste Management District created learning stations for students.

-Contributor: Cindi Remy