Valdez STEAM Fest Connects Students with Technology and Career Pathways

T3 Alaska kicked off the new school year with the Valdez community during the Valdez STEAM Fest, bringing students, families, educators, and local professionals together for hands-on learning and conversations about careers.

The event began Thursday evening with a T3 Alaska Open House in the Valdez High School Commons. Community members explored hands-on technology stations featuring drones, Raspberry Pis, and 3D printers while learning more about T3 Alaska and the opportunities available to local students. T3 staff were joined by community partners including Prince William Sound College, AKDRONE, and Seed Media.

At the same time, architects were meeting with the student body, community members and school administration regarding the upcoming school remodeling.  Last year, T3 students were able to capture footage and create a 3D model of the school, providing a valuable resource for the architecture firm.  The firm was also interested in summer imagery of the school, a perfect practical application for students to work on, which  Petie Deveer and the students were able to provide  during Friday’s activities.

Friday’s STEAM Fest brought T3 Alaska directly into the classroom for sessions with middle and high school students.

Middle school students were introduced to T3 Alaska and explored how a growth mindset can be applied to everyday challenges. T3 instructor George Reising co-hosted the session with science teacher Blaire Bailey, who leads Valdez’s Science Olympiad program. Students also explored video storytelling and how communication and media skills connect to careers in a variety of fields. T3 Alaska co-coach Tommy Sheridan led another session focused on mariculture in Alaska.

“That’s about the most engaged I’ve ever seen students!  Once we gave them the basic instructions on how to use the cameras they were off and running.  When the bell rang, they didn’t want to leave. “ George Reising T3 Alaska Curriculum Lead. 

High school students had the opportunity to learn directly from professionals working in fields where Alaska has a growing need for skilled workers. Thomas Trapp of AKDRONE demonstrated several types of drones and gave students the chance to take the controls of a Phantom 3. City of Valdez Public Works representative Landon Katello brought a front-end loader for an up-close look at heavy equipment and talked with students about careers in equipment operation and mechanics. Millwright Spencer Heston shared his experience in industrial fabrication and encouraged students to consider the opportunities available in the skilled trades.

Caption: Keana Wilkinson works with Thomas Tapp of AKDRONE, Landon Katello, City of Valdez Public Works shows Gittins heavy equipment operations.

These conversations are an important part of T3 Alaska’s approach to career preparation. Students aren’t just learning about technology or careers—they are meeting the people who work in these fields, seeing the equipment firsthand, and learning what it takes to get started.

T3 Alaska is committed to connecting students with local professionals, training opportunities, and pathways that can help them turn their interests into future careers.