SHOW & TELL: Bringing STEM Students to IPC APEX EXPO for a View of the Industry

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On the last morning of IPC APEX EXPO 2018, we met with Nancy Jaster, IPC design programs manager and one of the driving forces behind IPC’s STEM Outreach program for high school students. We spoke about thestudentswho were arriving on site at IPC APEX EXPO, and what the industry, and IPC, hoped to achieve with this valuable program.

Patty Goldman: Nancy, nearly 50 high school kids are lined up to get a badge and backpack for IPC’s STEM Outreach program at IPC APEX EXPO 2018. I take it you are in charge here. What’s the story?

Nancy Jaster: STEM is important to me because when I was in high school, I had no idea what an engineer did. I came up with this idea while speaking to Alicia Balonek (IPC senior director of trade shows and events), the other organizer of this event. After  discussing  this  with Alicia,  I  reached out to  a  friend  whose children attend Canyon Crest Academy. My friend used to work with me at Bell Labs and would understand what I was proposing, and her children’s school had a great STEM program. My friend immediately agreed and pitched  it  to  the  Canyon Crest Academy principal, and by the next morning,  they  were  on  board  and  IPC  had  a  STEM  Outreach  program. This same friend  also  had  contacts  at  the  Preuss  School, which is for kids who may be the first in their families to go to college. They also agreed.

It  was  basically  through  networking  and  connections that these two schools were selected. By  having  built-in  connections  to  these  two  schools,  we  were  able  to  put  a  plan  in  place very quickly. We will hopefully get some good press and can reach out to other area schools.

To read this article, which originally appeared in Show & Tell Magazine, click here.

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