Roosevelt Elementary students had the opportunity to learn from real-world professionals during STEM Week, held the week of April 7. The week was filled with engaging presentations from experts in science, technology, engineering, and wildlife management—all designed to spark curiosity and show how STEM applies to everyday careers.
Wednesday Highlights
Second graders welcomed Molly Toth, a chemical engineer from IFF, who shared how her plant processes soy protein—from unloading train cars to turning it into Cliff Bars, which she brought for students to sample. She also led a hands-on pH experiment, guiding students through forming hypotheses and testing different materials.
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Later that day, Jason McGoldrick, a software engineer with VIBE Electric Technology, introduced third graders to the world of coding. Using Code.org—a platform familiar to students—he demonstrated how coding works and how it’s used in his job every day. He encouraged students by explaining how learning these skills early gives them a big advantage in the future.
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Thursday Spotlight
Fourth graders explored the world of conservation with Bobby Gragg, a wildlife technician with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Bobby shared stories and photos of his fieldwork, from species management to conducting controlled burns. He also talked about the college courses that helped prepare him for this career, making direct connections to students' own interests and experiences.
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Friday Finale
Fifth graders wrapped up the week with a visit from Devin Weddle, an architect with WRA. Devin judged a student design contest and shared how the same design process students used with Tinkercad software is used in professional architectural design. Students were excited to recognize the similarities and better understand how classroom learning connects to real careers.
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Throughout the week, these engaging professionals helped our young Tigers discover new possibilities in the world of STEM.
Thank you to Molly Toth, Jason McGoldrick, Bobby Gragg, and Devin Weddle for sharing your time, knowledge, and passion with our students!