Local High-School Students Explore STEM Career Opportunities in Week-Long Academy

Students from across the Mid-Columbia region are getting ready for the second annual Tri-Cities STEM Career Academy. This program is a five-day event that aims to introduce high school students to the dynamic local careers in agriculture, science, and energy. The Academy runs from Monday, June 24 through Friday, June 28.
 
Students will explore the physics of producing hydropower, design and build a solar car and hydrogen car, build and fly a drone, take field trips to local employers, and experience real-world simulations. Students will learn directly from engineers, hydro and nuclear plant operators, skilled trades workers, scientists, conservationists, and other industry professionals. These professionals will explain future local employment opportunities, what skills and education are needed, and how to get those skills.
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Students will learn pathways to good-paying careers in clean energy, agriculture, and conservation in the Tri-Cities and be able to write their own story, a plan to build a bridge from high school to a successful STEM career in the Tri-Cities.
The Academy is a Foundational for Water & Energy Education (FWEE) event hosted by local innovators in clean energy, agriculture, and conservation. Benton PUD and Washington Grain Commission serve as anchor sponsors, with partners including Benton & Franklin Conservation Districts, Energy Northwest, City of Richland Energy Services, Educational Service District 123, Kennewick School District, Benton REA, UA Local 598, Agriculture and Natural Resources Center of Excellence, and workshops led by industry experts, including Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.