Ann Arbor Times

More than 50 middle and high school students from Ypsilanti-area schools participated in Eastern Michigan University's (EMU) annual STEM Day. This event, organized by EMU's TRIO Upward Bound program in collaboration with the GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology, offered students a chance to engage in hands-on learning experiences related to engineering, mathematics, and technology.

STEM Day featured various activities such as workshops led by EMU faculty and student-run engineering and math challenges. For the first time, a STEM Information Fair was held, showcasing student organizations and support services available on campus.

Courtney Morris, director of the AmeriCorps Program at EMU, expressed enthusiasm about the event's impact: “Watching students light up while engaging with these activities is always my favorite takeaway,” she said. “When we present learning in dynamic ways, we unlock new possibilities for understanding and student confidence.”

Ypsilanti Community High School teachers and counselors played an important role in connecting their students with this program. Many attendees are not yet part of Upward Bound but still benefit from the experience. Morris noted that both students and families look forward to this event each year: “Each year, we hear the same feedback,” she shared. “Students look forward to this event, and families value the opportunities it provides. It’s become a staple of our programming and community outreach.”

A notable moment from this year's event was when Jeremiah Adams, a graduating senior who has participated in STEM Day four times, attended his final event accompanied by his mother as a chaperone. “It was a beautiful full-circle moment,” Morris commented. “It’s stories like Jeremiah’s that show the long-term impact of this work.”

This year also marks Courtney Morris's introduction as the new director of EMU’s Navigating Returning Citizens AmeriCorps Program. A Detroit native and EMU alumna committed to educational equity advocacy, Morris has experience in K–12 STEM education, college access initiatives, and community-based programming.

Founded in 1849, Eastern Michigan University is Michigan's second oldest public university. It offers more than 300 academic programs across various disciplines to over 13,000 students at undergraduate through doctoral levels.