Lawton Constitution: LPS students learn they can shoot for stars

Lawton Constitution - Stephen Robertson

Great Plains Technology Center played host to 1,100 middle and high school students Thursday to show them that not even the sky is the limit.

The students, from around the tech center's service area, had the chance to hear from an honest to goodness astronaut, see what it's like to look down on earth from outer space, compare space food to cafeteria food, operate a rover and even have a photo made in a space suit.

And that was just part of the schedule during the tech center's first-ever Technology and Space Day, an event to designed to highlight the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education and the opportunities that are close at hand to prepare for technical fields.

Tom Thomas, the tech center's superintendent, said the center has a number of tech-oriented programs, and it wanted to let local students know about the opportunities here. And NASA and other exhibitors showed up to let the kids get a glimpse of what they might do with the skills they can obtain at Great Plains.

So NASA set up a number of exhibits, as did the tech center's robotics,a pre-engineering and biomedical science programs. Hands-on science demonstration were provided by Tinker Air Force Base, the University of Oklahoma, Cameron University, the OU Medical Center and STARBASE Oklahoma.

"Some kids can learn from a book," Thomas said. "Others need to get their hands on stuff."

"If we can get 1,100 kids through and excited ... that's a great day."

Part of the day was reserved for discussion of how to increase enrollment in STEM classes. One model that's shown success locally is demonstrated by Northrop Grumman's partnership with Lawton Public Schools through the National Math and Science Initiative. The company is spending $500,000 over three years to It also will spend about $500,000 over three years to support advance placement classes at Eisenhower High School. (The program has been extended to the other city high schools through funds from Boeing and the Department of Defense Education Activity). The program at Eisenhower has increased enrollment advanced classes, and it was named the very first National Math and Science Initiative School of the Year by the National Math and Science Initiative.

Thomas said there are other ways that businesses and individuals can help, such as mentoring technology students.

Online: Lawton Constitution