Vista Unified Launches First-Ever STEM2Career Expo
Vista Unified Launches First-Ever STEM2Career Expo
Student projects and demos include virtual welding stations, a cooking demo, a catapult challenge, photo portrait station, more.
For the first time ever, Vista Unified School District is combining its popular CTE Showcase and STEM Fest into one event - The STEM2Career Expo, which will be held at Vista High School on Wednesday, March 26 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM.
The decision to merge the two shows into one larger event provides the perfect opportunity to showcase the breadth and depth of what a unified school district can achieve, aided by a large array of student demonstrations.
The STEM2Career Expo will be held at Vista High School’s gymnasium, the outside quad area, and in several classrooms.
“The STEM2Career Expo is an annual culmination of our district-wide commitment to career exploration for students of all ages,” says Vista USD Superintendent Dr. Matt Doyle. “San Diego County has become a national leader in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. As a matter of fact, right here in North County, we have business partners leading the world in bioengineering and technology. We are excited to showcase the interests, skills, and abilities our students have developed as they prepare for a successful career in STEM-related fields.”
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)
The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) element will feature students from every school in the district, with booths both inside and outside the school’s gymnasium. Students will exhibit a wide variety of science experiments and projects, plus hands-on activities with which attendees can engage.
The stations will highlight how students have gained skills and knowledge in areas such as coding, where students will exhibit programming and fundamental coding concepts that prepare them for the digital future.
Says Taresa McSpadden, a Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) for Vista Unified, “Our school district stands out because each school has the freedom to choose the STEM activities that best engage their students and focus on their interests. This creates an exciting opportunity for our students, staff, families, and administrators to see the diverse and innovative projects happening across different schools. When students from TK-12th grade showcase their work, it highlights our commitment to fostering their interests and passions in the classroom.”
Other skills being highlighted include projects using Scratch, a free programming language, and Tinkercad, a 3D modeling software. The exhibits demonstrate how students create interactive stories, animations, and games related to the greenhouse effect. There will also be booths featuring a Pinwheel Design Center, Infrared Astronomy, Drone Flights, and Flight Simulators.
Visitors can participate at a ‘Make and Take’ table with Seed Bombs and Build-and-Test paper glider kits. And everyone can watch students showcase their work throughout the year via video and visual presentations.
The Catapult Challenge
Lastly, following the success of last year’s STEM Fest ‘Egg Drop Challenge, ’ VUSD introduced a ‘Catapult Challenge’ for this year’s event.
360 TK - 12th-grade students have already signed up. They will bring catapults they’ve created to the showcase and catapult a jellybean dipped in paint to see how far they can make it fly in Vista High’s quad – in what is sure to be a stand-out memory of the day!
CTE Pathways Expand
The Career Technical Education (CTE) portion of the event will showcase CTE student projects from all Vista USD high schools. Showcase stations will include culinary arts, virtual welding, stage lighting and sound engineering, construction, auto mechanics, computer engineering, graphic design, video game design, 1st responder, and more.
The showcase is an interactive display of the various CTE pathways the district has developed, with students demonstrating the skills they have learned that transfer to a variety of industries and roles.
“This event is an amazing way to see the breadth and depth of our CTE students’ work and expertise across a wide spectrum of skilled career-path classes,” says Robert Crowell, Career Pathways Coordinator for Vista Unified. “It’s a celebration of the expertise of our staff being transferred to our students to empower them for success.”
CTE teachers from Vista High, Rancho Buena Vista, and Mission Vista will be on hand to speak to visitors and give further information about the curriculum.
A special element of the CTE showcase is that many of the businesses that have provided VUSD students with internship opportunities will be present. These include Sea Spine, The Vista Chamber of Commerce, Vista Firefighters, Mathnasium, VPSD Media, Balfour Beatty, Vista Community Clinic, Electrical Training Institute, and more.
Many students are currently interns with these businesses and will speak about their experiences; company representatives will explain how their business relates to career and STEM and meet with students interested in internships for the summer and next school year.
VISUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEDIA: This event is packed with compelling visuals at each showcase station, and students and staff will be available to speak about projects. Stations at the event include:
Welding: 3 VR (virtual reality) welding stations for people to "demo"
Construction: Building a Tiny Home or ADU
Catapult Challenge: 300+ student-designed catapults in the school’s quad
Patient Care: CPR Dummy Demos
TV/Film: Portable News Desk and students conducting attendee interviews
Photography: Headshot portrait station
Culinary: Live cooking demo (fresh crepes & hummus)
Automotive: The class is showcasing two vehicles (Hot Rod & EV) + Diagnostic tests
Computer Engineering: Students demo'ing programs/software they wrote
Agricultural/Animal Sciences: Suture kits & cute, cuddly bunnies and goats
Graphic Design & Photo: Rolling Art Displays
Stage Technology: Gobo light demo
1st Responder: Blood Pressure ARM demos