On Thursday, February 9, 2023, International Business Machines (IBM) visited Southern University Laboratory School to engage students about STEM areas highlighting technology and how integral it is in their everyday lives. IBM staff members introduced themselves, highlighting their educational background (schools & majors) along with the projects they have worked on. The SULS students then followed suit introducing themselves and their future aspirations.

IBM staff members were able to provide a broad range of careers; thus, highlighting the vast areas of STEM opportunities available to students. These fields included but not limited to computer science, psychology, sociology, animal science, medicine, and business just to name a few. This interactive experience allowed staff members as well as students the ability to ask probing questions; therefore, cultivating an atmosphere for both groups to learn from each other.

Followed by the Q&A session, IBM facilitated an exercise with the students, asking them to build an application for everyday use. Working collaboratively in groups, the students were tasked with finding ways to find solutions to assist society in insurance, physical therapy, or understanding various mathematical computations. There were so many interesting ideas. We wish we had more time to discuss. We would like to thank IBM and their staff for pouring into our future. Among the staff members, Former SULS students Yvette Moody and Frederick Christian ℅ 91’ assisted with the facilitation of the event.