K-12 STEM Outreach Community

Community Mission

The K-12 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Outreach Community of Interest’s mission is to promote and support pathways to STEM degrees and STEM careers for K-12 students as part of the national strategic effort to produce more STEM professionals for the nation.

Vision

The K-12 STEM Outreach Committee provides for the security of the nation by ensuring a robust STEM workforce.

Scope

K-12 students need to be exposed to STEM activities, degrees, and careers as they move up the academic ladder. The committee will work with the network of Posts, individual members, sustaining members, service branches, and strategic partners to increase opportunities for STEM exposure for K-12 students. The COI will also promote the Society’s STEM programming at local, regional, and national events, as resources allow.

Activities

• Categorize different examples of how the Post/individuals support K-12 STEM at the local level
• Identify and provide guest speakers/webinars on relevant topics
• Serve as a clearinghouse of STEM information
• Provide a calendar of STEM (SAME/Post and external) events and points of contacts

To learn more about the K-12 STEM Outreach Community of interest, contact a member of the Steering Committee, or reach out to Amy McGeever, STEM Coordinator.

Community Chair

Victoria Hernandez
Program Manager, AFCEC

Immediate Past Community Chair

Joshua Graham, P.E., PMP, F.SAME
Project Manager, HDR

View Joshua’s leadership profile.

Upcoming National Webinars

• 
  April 15, 2026

  Webinar

  Solving Complex CVOC Problems with ISTR– Field Proven Approaches

  This webinar will first discuss the unique aspects of performance-based designs when considering procurement of thermal remediation services. Next, we will discuss how to evaluate criteria when selecting performance objectives, i.e., “ how do you define success?”
• 
  April 16, 2026

  Webinar

  The National Spatial Reference System: Modernizing Our Geodetic Foundation for the Future

  The National Geodetic Survey (NGS), within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is in the process of making the critical transition from the current National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) to the upcoming, modernized (2022) system.
• 
  May 14, 2026

  Webinar

  CMMC Level 2: What A/E Firms Must Know Before November

  Starting November 10, 2026, the Department of Defense will require CMMC Level 2 certification for contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Unlike prior self-attestation requirements, this mandate requires verification by an accredited third-party assessor before a firm can be awarded or retain applicable DoD contracts.

Related TME Articles – K-12 STEM Outreach

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  Reducing Health Risks When Working in Confined Spaces

  January 22, 2024

  Completing an audit of the hazards, permits, and roles and responsibilities associated with confined spaces can help alleviate health risks and enhance worker protections around these aspects of facilities.
• 

  Eliminating PFAS Leaching at Camp Grayling

  January 22, 2024

  At Camp Grayling, a novel colloidal-activated carbon material was used as a horizontal barrier on a site where aqueous film-forming foam had previously been discharged to prevent PFAS from leaching into groundwater.
• 

  Reaching Sustainability Goals with Waste-to-Energy

  January 22, 2024

  The U.S. Army Engineer Research & Development Center’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory is working to develop small-scale waste-to-energy systems that will advance installation sustainability and waste management.
• 

  Investigating Emerging PFAS Destruction Technologies

  January 22, 2024

  Following recent interim guidance from the Department of Defense on how military organizations are to handle the destruction and disposal of PFAS, developing technologies that target the destruction of these forever chemicals hold possibilities for effective and efficient removal.