NATCHITOCHES – Recipe for Rural STEM Day 2025, a day of science and technology exploration for fifth and sixth graders from throughout central Louisiana, drew 1,000 students from 28 schools to learn about all branches of science, math, technology, engineering and health Feb. 20. The Cenla STEM Region 6 event took place at the Alexandria Mega Shelter where dozens of stations offered students hands-on learning through experiments, games and demontrations.
Northwestern State University nursing students used music to teach fifth and sixth graders correct tempo for CPR compressions during Rural STEM Day. The activity was one of several that engaged fifth and sixth graders from 28 schools in a seven-parish region in science, technology, math and engineering hands-on learning.
“GUMBO is our acronym for Geographically United in Making Better Opportunities,” said Jennifer DePriest, Cenla STEM director. Recipe for Rural STEM Day ignites curiosity, fosters a love of learning and introduces young minds to the possibilities that STEM careers offer, DePriest said.
Cenla STEM Region 6 is part of the Louisiana STEM Network, which strives to improve access to STEM education, close opportunity gaps for underserved populations and engage in Louisiana’s STEM workforce and economy. The region includes Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Rapides and Winn parishes. Administrators strive to engage students, families, educators and communities by embracing support for STEM education from early childhood through college and employment, integrates STEM with school districts and fosters partnerships with business and industry.
Northwestern State University students and faculty from the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health and School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics hosted several activities for youngsters, including a robotics challenge, math puzzles, chemistry and physics demonstrations, drone flight and healthcare demonstrations.
Rural STEM Day was hosted by LSU Alexandria and sponsored by Regions 3,6, and 8 LaSTEM center, with featured demonstrations by the Louisiana AgCenter, Alexandria Zoo, City of Alexandria Water Department, Kisatchie National Forest, Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, Central Louisiana Technical Community College and several more business, industry, education and healthcare partners. Students were given take-home STEM kits with instructions for activities such as making soap dough and sugar scrubs, with explanations of the science behind the activities and how they relate to STEM careers.
Schools or organizations interested in becoming involved with the Cenla STEM Center Region 6 can visit https://cenlastem.com/ for more information.
Northwestern State nursing student Patience Christen showed Paisley Ferrell of East Beauregard Elementary how to read a pulse oximeter during Rural STEM Day. The pulse ox is a non-invasive test that measures oxygen levels in the blood.
Northwestern State University chemistry students showed sixth graders Alto Hughes, Dwayne Patton, Raelynn Juneau and Taryn Freundlich of Pineville Elementary how to use invisible ink and then add a solution to make it visible again. Elementary students participated in several activities related to math, science and engineering presented by student and faculty volunteers from NSU’s School of STEM.
Travis Mitchell, RSST instructor at Northwestern State, guided fifth and sixth graders in using drone technology during Rural STEM Day. NSU’s RSST (Remote Systems Science and Technology) certificate program provides students with a foundation in the booming field of remotely operated aerial, terrestrial and underwater drones.
Northwestern State University nursing students used music to teach fifth and sixth graders correct tempo for CPR compressions during Rural STEM Day. The activity was one of several that engaged fifth and sixth graders from 28 schools in a seven-parish region in science, technology, math and engineering hands-on learning.
