By: Jordan Meadows (PHOTOS/SFLRP)
Staff Writer
STEM careers focus as much on discovery, innovation, and problem-solving as on the specific fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. This was a key takeaway from the Youth STEAM Summit—where “A” stands for agriculture—recently held at the Rocky Mount Event Center.
Held on July 25th, the 2024 Youth STEAM Summit was organized by Roanoke Cooperative’s Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention Project (SFLRP), a nonprofit program established in 2013 to help North Carolina families – primarily but not exclusively African American – increase the income and asset value of their forestland. The program also encourages forest health, land retention, and the opportunity for families to create intergenerational wealth.
The summit featured a keynote address by Onté Johnson, a project manager at the Raleigh-based nonprofit energy consulting firm Advanced Energy and an adjunct professor at Bennett College in Greensboro. Johnson challenged the belief that STEM careers are reserved for certain individuals, stressing their accessibility to all.
“STEM is for everyone,” Johnson said. “It doesn’t matter your background, gender, or where you come from. What matters most is your passion, drive, and willingness to learn and grow.”
Over 100 attendees participated in the event, including rising 9th to 12th graders, their parents, educators, and youth leaders. The summit featured exhibitors from local colleges connected with STEPS4Growth, a clean energy workforce development project funded by a US Department of Commerce grant.
Additionally, forestry and trucking companies, natural resource agencies, and conservation NGOs were active participants. Interactive sessions enabled students to engage in lab experiments, skilled labor simulators, and team-based land use planning activities.
A mission of the summit was to inform attendees of the progress in agriculture with research and practical services across various sectors, including electric transportation, residential and commercial applications, motors and drives, and solar energy.
Leading institutions such as Elizabeth City State University and Chowan University shared valuable information about scholarships and career development, helping students envision their future in STEAM fields. Attendees included students from NC Central, Elizabeth City State University, Nash Edgecombe Community College, and other institutions.
“We had a fantastic time at this year’s STEAM Summit,” said Reba Green-Holley, SFLRP’s youth program coordinator. “It was a great day of learning and student engagement, and our speakers, program partners, and exhibitors did a tremendous job of helping students to envision the world that they can enter into in a STEAM career.”
Forestry management emerged as a key theme, with professionals discussing their role in supporting thriving ecosystems and communities. They create and implement plans that balance ecological, social, and economic values, using scientific research to ensure the long-term health of forests.
In addition, the summit showcased several specialized roles in forestry and environmental science. Environmental educators lead engaging outdoor activities and earn an average of $50,900 annually. GIS specialists, who analyze data and develop management strategies, earn around $80,000.
Indigenous relations specialists work to build trust between Indigenous communities and development entities, while forestry technicians support forest management through data collection and reforestation. Careers such as park rangers, hydrologists, and silviculture technicians also offer vital roles in conservation and environmental management.
“What companies care about and want to know is: Are you trainable and coachable?” Johnson said. “That’s what matters. You can get hired for one thing, but to excel and get a promotion, you have to be adaptable and willing to learn and to be trained.”
The 2024 Youth STEAM Summit provided an invaluable platform for students to learn about STEAM fields, explore diverse career options, and gain insights from experts, highlighting the growing interest and potential among North Carolina’s youth in both traditional STEM disciplines and agriculture.
This year’s STEAM Summit was supported by Advanced Energy, CoBank, Enviva, NC Electric Cooperatives, the NC Sustainable Forestry Initiative, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Roanoke Cooperative, and SFLRP.
