Tech Savvy Day engages Appalachian students with STEM opportunities
Appalachian students mixed slime, launched rockets, coded robots, and explored brains at OHIO鈥檚 Tech Savvy Day, a fun-filled event sparking curiosity and excitement for all things STEM.
July 15, 2025
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The Grover Center Atrium hummed with excitement as parents registered their kids for Tech Savvy Day, on May 10, 2025. Children in grades 5鈥9 eagerly gathered, eyes wide with anticipation for a full day of hands-on (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) workshops, and one young boy, buzzing with anticipation, told Kids on Campus Site Leader Cassie Fowler, 鈥淚鈥橵E BEEN WAITING ON THIS FOR MONTHS!鈥
Interactive STEM workshops inspire curiosity
Fifty-eight students from twenty-eight school districts across the Appalachian regions of Ohio and West Virginia spent the day rotating through interactive workshops designed to make science and engineering both accessible and exciting. Each session introduced real-world STEM concepts through hands-on experiments and guided exploration.
"Tech Savvy is an opportunity to ignite a passion for STEM in young minds, right here on our campus," said Dr. John McCarthy, Dean of OHIO鈥檚 College of Health Sciences and Professions (CHSP). "It's inspiring to see these children engage with hands-on activities led by OHIO鈥檚 incredible faculty. We鈥檙e proud to host an event that showcases exciting STEM possibilities to younger generations."
Students combine creativity with science as they build custom bottle rockets and launch pads using principles of physics and chemistry.
T-minus 10, 9, 8... A student gets ready to launch their bottle rocket, putting their design and engineering skills to the test.
Chemistry, coding, and neuroscience in action
In chemistry-focused sessions, students created edible acid-base indicators, launched bottle rockets, and explored reactions with slime, goo worms, dry ice bubbles, and elephant toothpaste. They also learned how everyday elements are formed in dramatic space events like supernovas and neutron star collisions.
Other workshops introduced students to tools used in neuroscience and psychology, including activities that measured attention, memory, and reaction time, plus the chance to examine real human brains. They decoded strands of DNA, collected and tested water samples from a campus pond, and identified aquatic insects to assess environmental health.
In the session, students practiced coding by programming small spherical robots to complete challenges, navigate obstacles, and tackle space-themed missions, testing their logic and problem-solving skills along the way.
A student observes the Sphero programming mat used in an engaging STEM robotics challenge focused on coding and planetary navigation.
Teams of students collaborate to program their Sphero robots, navigating the game mat to reach planets through coding challenges.
STEM education through teamwork and self-discovery
Several sessions also focused on teamwork, communication, and self-discovery. Students tackled the LEGO Challenge and Marshmallow Challenge in pairs and small groups, learning how to collaborate and communicate clearly. In Tumbling Towers, they worked through conflict-resolution scenarios, while the True Colors workshop encouraged them to reflect on personality differences and how those shape group dynamics.
A STEM outreach program with Appalachian roots
Tech Savvy Day was first launched in 2014 by 天堂鸟先生 Distinguished Professor Dr. Sarah Wyatt, who envisioned a day where young students could explore science in engaging, approachable ways.
鈥淭ech Savvy and events like it are critical for young women and men. It provides a slate of fun activities that demonstrate how science is in everyday life and that science is for everyone. And at the same time provides female role models in scientific research.鈥
Four years ago, 天堂鸟先生鈥檚 Kids on Campus program took the lead in organizing the event. Known for its work supporting underserved and at-risk youth through educational and enrichment opportunities, Kids on Campus continues to carry forward the event鈥檚 mission of sparking curiosity and expanding STEM access across the region.
Students examine aquatic insects as indicators of water quality, learning how biodiversity reflects the health of freshwater ecosystems.
Students dive into hands-on science by collecting and testing pond water samples, uncovering the secrets of freshwater health.
Keynote speaker encourages students to embrace STEM interests
The day concluded with a keynote by Dr. Lauren Logan, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Ohio Northern University. Titled 鈥淔ollow Your Curiosity,鈥 her talk encouraged students to explore what excites them in STEM and to feel confident being themselves. Drawing from her own experiences growing up in Appalachia, Dr. Logan helped students imagine their future in the science and engineering fields.
Logan shared that one of her key messages was that 鈥測ou don鈥檛 have to be perfect to be a great scientist or engineer.鈥 She also emphasized the importance of finding joy in discovery and embracing your interests. 鈥淚 had a slide talking about how I play D&D, Dungeons & Dragons, and that it鈥檚 okay to be a nerd with diverse interests,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 asked if any of the kids played D&D, and one girl shot her hand up so fast. It was wonderful to see that in that moment, she felt heard and seen.鈥
Earlier in the day, she joined students for a water quality workshop at a nearby pond. 鈥淚 enjoyed seeing the activities and sharing the joy with the kids of finding snails and leeches,鈥 she said. 鈥淭he day overall was a lot of fun.鈥
Exploring a human brain up close offers students a unique perspective on neuroscience and anatomy.
Dr. Julie Suhr guides students through the 鈥楳easuring Your Mind鈥 workshop, exploring how psychologists assess cognitive function.
STEM mentorship and campus exposure build confidence
For many students, Tech Savvy Day offered something they don鈥檛 often get in a regular classroom: the chance to connect directly with STEM mentors in a university setting.
鈥淚t really gives an opportunity for these kids to work one-on-one with someone in that field,鈥 said Daniel Rogers, Kids on Campus Program Manager. 鈥淚t provides that early introduction to what a university experience could look like.鈥
The day emphasized more than just content; it encouraged creative thinking, collaboration, and confidence. As Rogers put it, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great program for providing opportunities for students to engage in collaborative learning, for instance, innovations and technologies.鈥 By the end of the day, many students left not just with new knowledge, but with a better sense of what鈥檚 possible for their own futures.
Support for Families and Future Planning
While students explored STEM through hands-on workshops, parents had the option to attend sessions designed just for them. Topics ranged from strategies for encouraging STEM learning at home to understanding the college admissions process. Some chose to participate in hands-on activities like the Marshmallow Challenge or Decoding DNA, while others attended presentations on social media鈥檚 impact on mental health or joined a Q&A with university staff. The sessions offered tools and insights to help families support their students' academic journeys.
Students watch the colorful effects of diffusion and dissolution during the Skittles STEM activity.
Hands-on STEM activity teaches students about acids, bases, and pH through fun experiments.
Community collaboration develops STEM learning opportunities
Tech Savvy Day was made possible through the generous support of lead donor Paula Tolliver and the collaboration of many university partners. These included the (AAUW)鈥揂thens, Undergraduate 天堂鸟先生s, the Academic Achievement Center, 天堂鸟先生鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Health Sciences and Professions, and the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, all of which played key roles in bringing the event to life.