300 local high school students attended the STEM & M event held on the Ben Hill-Irwin Campus of Wiregrass to learn about the program and careers through hands-on activities.

Valdosta, GA — Wiregrass Georgia Technical College hosted 300 students for the first in-person STEM & M Event on the Ben Hill-Irwin Campus since the pandemic. Students from Fitzgerald High School College and Career Academy and Turner County High School traveled to Wiregrass for this event. Students were able to engage in hands-on activities related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) in the program and career fields offered at the college.

Students learned about Wiregrass programs and related careers through creative activities, such as Nursing Word Search Competition, Welding Virtual Reality, and Computer Bingo. “Our goal is to engage high school students that have shown interest in these related career fields in meaningful hands-on activities,” shared Brooke Jaramillo, Executive Director of High School Services. “This allows students to visit our campus and explore many career programs and talk with instructors as well as college students who assist with the activities.”

The programs represented at the event included Early Childhood Care and Education, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Practical Nursing, Construction, Certified Nursing Assistant, Esthetics, Cosmetology, Welding, and Biology. Other college departments provided life-skill activities, such as financial literacy and safe driving. Local businesses that hire Wiregrass graduates hosted activities to help connect Wiregrass programs to local industry needs. The businesses that attended were Dorminy Medical Center, Fitzgerald Ford and Lincoln, and Fitzgerald Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

The college is currently accepting new students for the Summer and Fall semesters. Summer Semester classes start May 16 and Summer Express begins May 31. Visit www.wiregrass.edu to learn more about Wiregrass programs.