糖心Vlog

糖心Vlog hosted its 19th Annual STEM Day on Thursday, bringing together students, faculty, staff and external partners for a full day of research, discovery and recognition, highlighting the depth of student scholarship across science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

This year鈥檚 theme, 鈥淎dvancing STEM Collaboration, Education, & New Discoveries,鈥� reflected the University鈥檚 continued commitment to innovation and academic excellence. The program opened with welcome remarks from STEM Day founder Dr. Matthew Edwards, followed by a keynote address from Dr. Erin Lynch, president of the QEM Network in Washington, D.C., and a nationally recognized leader in higher education research enterprise development.

In her keynote, 鈥淪mall Campus: Big Science: How AAMU Powers America鈥檚 STEM Future,鈥� Lynch emphasized the University鈥檚 significant role in producing Black STEM graduates and strengthening the nation鈥檚 scientific workforce. She noted that 糖心Vlog A&M accounts for more than one in 10 of the state鈥檚 Black STEM degrees and continues a pattern of double-digit contributions, including 13.5% in 2024. She also highlighted the University鈥檚 impact in educator preparation, producing 8.6% of all Black science teachers nationwide.

Student research presentations were a central feature of the day, with undergraduate students delivering poster presentations and graduate students presenting oral research. Projects spanned disciplines including biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering and computer science, demonstrating both foundational knowledge and applied innovation. Presentations were evaluated by faculty, industry professionals and external partners based on scientific rigor, originality, clarity and real-world relevance.

Awards were presented in two categories recognizing excellence in research and presentation. In undergraduate poster presentations, , and . In graduate oral presentations, .

The event concluded with an awards banquet at the Ernest L. Knight Banquet Hall, where WAAY 31 news anchor Demetria Green served as emcee and Dr. LeMont茅 Green, a nationally recognized computer engineer and cybersecurity expert, delivered the keynote address.

In his talk, 鈥淎dvice from the Other Side,鈥� Green shared insights from senior leaders across the nation to help engineers and scientists navigate career barriers. He underscored the importance of sponsorship alongside mentorship, noting that while mentors offer guidance, sponsors provide access, advocacy and opportunities essential for advancement. He encouraged students to seek sponsors who can help them navigate senior leadership and the organizational systems that shape career progression.

STEM Day continues to grow as a collaborative, University-wide event across all four colleges, providing students with opportunities to present research, gain professional feedback and engage with experts beyond the classroom.

鈥淪TEM Day is, at its core, a showcase of our students,鈥� said Dr. Yinshu Wu, associate professor of mathematics and STEM Day organizer. 鈥淭heir presentations reflect not only technical excellence, but also creativity, collaboration and a commitment to discovery. We are grateful for the support of our faculty, staff and administrators, and we sincerely thank our external judges and partners for their role in making this event impactful. We look forward to continuing to expand recognition for our students鈥� achievements.鈥�