October 20, 2026 | Story by Joëlle Walls
For the past 14 years, broadening access to STEM learning experiences and career pathways for underserved students and communities has been the mission of GoSTEM, a K-12 educational outreach initiative in the College of Lifetime Learning at Georgia Tech.
One way the GoSTEM team pursues that mission is through the GoSTEM College and STEM Fair, its signature event. After relaunching in 2024 with a smaller group of partner schools, GoSTEM has focused on creating a more connected experience that helps students build relationships with the STEM community throughout their educational journey.
“We want students to see STEM not just happening in their classrooms, but as a community they can be a part of and explore through future college and career opportunities,” said GoSTEM Program Manager Michael Turner. “By focusing intentionally on partner schools already familiar with our other programs, we can help students and their teachers see the possibilities available through STEM fields and college options.”
More than 200 middle and high school students visited campus earlier this month for the GoSTEM College and STEM Fair. Groups rotated through STEM demonstrations and college admissions and financial aid sessions.
During closing remarks, Bill Gaudelli, dean of the College of Lifetime Learning, reinforced the importance of engagement, persistence, and taking advantage of new learning opportunities.
"Every learner's journey starts with engagement," he said. "When learners place themselves in new environments, connect with new people, and remain curious, they begin to recognize possibilities for themselves that may not have been visible before."
Among the event’s first-time presenters was Georgia Gwinnett College, which brought STEM faculty and college admissions representatives. Students examined their own cheek cells under a microscope and explored chromatography by separating marker dyes into their component colors using filter paper.
Jennell Talley, professor of biology and biochemistry at Georgia Gwinnett College, said engaging directly with science and college faculty at events like the GoSTEM College and STEM Fair helps students develop a sense of belonging in STEM. As a first-generation college student, Talley had limited knowledge of what was possible through higher education.
“I think the earlier that students can interact with scientists, the earlier they can realize there are spaces for them too,” Talley said. “The more people from various backgrounds we can get in science, the better for science and society overall.”
Preserving the connection between STEM and creativity was a focus for returning presenter Buttercup STEAM, a community organization whose mission is to inspire girls through science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Founder and director Aisha Flores, an engineer, and professional artist and co-founder Daniel Flores brought their complementary perspectives to the team’s hands-on 3D pen design sessions. Students explored how to turn ideas into physical creations while thinking about shape, structure, and dimensions.
“Art gives students another way to connect with technical concepts and express what they are learning. A creative project can open the door to conversations about engineering, design, and technology that a student might not otherwise seek out,” said Flores. “I want young people, especially girls, to see that they can bring all of their interests into these fields.”
Another opportunity for mentorship came through the group leaders. Participants from each school were divided into smaller groups, led by Georgia Tech undergraduate and graduate students. For Marrissa Izykowicz, a first-generation college student and doctoral candidate in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, volunteering was personal.
“I volunteered because this event is one that I wish existed when I was in middle and high school,” she said. “I think it’s valuable for young students to be on college campuses and interact with college students because it allows them to see college, not as a far-off goal, but a place where you can explore more deeply topics that interest you.”
Like Izykowicz, Loly Amaya is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. She said that undergraduate and graduate students can help make these experiences more relatable and approachable for middle and high school students.
“It was especially rewarding to see the students’ excitement as they learned something new and then shared those experiences with one another,” she said. “Seeing that transformation throughout the day reminded me how meaningful STEM outreach can be and how important it is to curate opportunities for students to explore science in an environment where they feel excited, curious, and included.”
Educators also emphasized how the GoSTEM College and STEM Fair helped students connect classroom learning to future educational and career opportunities. Donyale Miller, an engineering teacher at Berkmar High School who is also an architect and former adjunct professor, said the combination of workshops and informational sessions helps demystify the path to higher education.
“I want our students to walk away from Georgia Tech realizing that high-level engineering and architecture paths are completely achievable for them,” she said. “I hope that standing in world-class design labs helps them see that the transition from high school drafting tables to a university setting is just the logical next step in their education. I want this experience to demystify the college environment, so they return to our studio seeing their current classroom projects not just as assignments, but as the foundational blueprints for their future careers.”
