From Curiosity to Careers: St. Helena STEAM Expo Prepares Students for Tomorrow’s Workforce
The St. Helena STEAM Expo was held on February 4, 2026 at St. Helena College and Career Academy, bringing together students, educators, and community partners for a day of hands-on, exploratory learning focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts/Agriculture, and Math (STEAM).
Learners from St. Helena Early Learning Center, St. Helena Arts and Technology Academy, and St. Helena College and Career Academy participated in the Expo, engaging in interactive activities designed to encourage critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. The event provided students with an opportunity to use their brains in a fun, engaging setting outside of the traditional classroom, allowing them to explore STEAM concepts through experiential learning.
STEAM disciplines play an increasingly important role in today’s workforce, making early and intentional exposure essential. Introducing youth to these fields helps strengthen their learning experiences while broadening their future possibilities, including pathways to careers they may not have previously considered. Events such as the St. Helena STEAM Expo allow students to see themselves in STEAM spaces and begin envisioning how these skills translate beyond the classroom.
Students also had the opportunity to interact with community and industry partners, including the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) and the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). These interactions helped learners connect classroom concepts to real-world applications in environmental science, research, and advanced technology, reinforcing the relevance of STEAM education beyond the school setting.
The Expo also served as a precursor to a broader vision for STEAM education within St. Helena Parish. This long-term effort seeks to expand opportunities for students to deepen their knowledge and potentially earn certifications in high-demand STEAM fields, including 3-D printing, Artificial Intelligence, FAA Part 107 drone certification, and other emerging technologies. This vision will be advanced through the Tri-Parish STEAM Initiative, a collaborative partnership between the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center’s Youth Development Agent Dr. Charity Schaffer and Mrs. Taryn Spikes-Webb of the Washington Parish STEM and Innovative Learning Center. The initiative serves St. Helena, Tangipahoa, and Washington Parishes and is designed to positively impact youth by equipping them with practical, industry-relevant skills that support workforce readiness immediately upon high school graduation.
The St. Helena STEAM Expo was made possible through a strong partnership with the St. Helena Parish School District and community collaborators committed to expanding meaningful learning opportunities for students. Through this collaborative effort, the Expo was brought to life and proved to be a massive success, reinforcing the value of partnerships in preparing youth for the future workforce.
