Monday, December 8, 2025
The 国产亚洲福利精品 Texas opened its campus to a new generation of engineers and scientists, welcoming more than 100 seventh-graders for a STEM filled day.
DENTON (UNT), Texas 鈥� The opened its campus to a new generation of engineers and scientists, welcoming more than 100 seventh-graders from Kennemer Middle School鈥檚 STEAM Academy. The STEM-centered field day was organized by assistant professor of mathematics education Queshonda Kudaisi, and featured faculty and staff from UNT鈥檚 , , and the .
Visiting students learned how to control machines with a makeshift obstacle at UNT's Willis Library鈥檚 Spark Makerspace
鈥淭he trip was really fun,鈥� said Naomi, a seventh-grader from Duncanville Independent School District. 鈥淚t was interesting to get out of school and explore things that we鈥檝e never experienced before.鈥�
Students attended a welcome ceremony before rotating through four STEM activity stations. At , they toured a 3D-printing lab and watched robotics demonstrations. At the , they learned how to create music through movement, sample tracks to produce a song and viewed an exhibit on the history of recording technology.
The group also toured campus 鈥� including a mock residential hall dorm room 鈥� and took part in a Q&A where professors from multiple departments discussed college life and careers in STEM.
鈥淢y favorite thing was getting to know UNT and the campus tour,鈥� said Cali, another seventh-grade participant. 鈥淚 think UNT is my first choice for college now.鈥�
Students learned how to play a theremin, holding their hands near the instrument鈥檚 antennas to make music with motion
Their teachers noted how engaged the students were throughout the day. One student interested in cosmetology was excited to learn she could major in chemistry to become a cosmetics chemist. Kaelon McLemore, a STEAM Academy teacher, said he was excited to see how inspired his students were by the trip.
鈥淭hey were able to really see the overall arc of what it takes to go to college,鈥� McLemore said. 鈥淭he experience was just wonderful."
, assistant professor of , helped to organize the event and moderated the Q&A between students and professors , , , , and which represent the departments of Chemistry, Learning Technologies, Teacher Education and Administration, and Educational Psychology. She said speaking directly with faculty helped students picture themselves in a college environment.
鈥淚t is very rewarding to provide these opportunities to middle-school students,鈥� Kudaisi said. 鈥淭he professors did a great job helping the students connect the dots between middle school, college and future careers in STEM.鈥�
Kudaisi said her own first campus visit was formative and hopes experiences like this do the same for these students. Teachers said that many of the seventh-graders were discussing the trip and expressing their excitement about it on the ride home.
To build on the momentum up, Kudaisi and colleagues across the university plan to host a STEM camp in summer 2026. Kudaisi said that Kennemer students who attended the field day will be offered a tuition waiver, and more than half have already expressed interest. She hopes to expand the program to include elementary school students in the future.
Two visiting middle school students in blue shirts control robots on the floor at UNT's Willis Library鈥檚 Spark Makerspace
鈥淚 wanted them to walk away inspired about their futures, whether that鈥檚 here at UNT or somewhere else,鈥� Kudaisi said. 鈥淚 hope they understand their potential and are inspired for their futures, their academic lives and whatever path they choose.鈥�
From 鈥� Research