NWTC STEM Fair Sparks Interest Among Sixth Graders

Two-day event in Green Bay exposes students to hands-on STEM and art experiences.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 12:55pm

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More than 2,600 sixth grade students from across Northeast Wisconsin attended a two-day STEM Fair hosted by Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) in Green Bay. The fair featured interactive stations led by NWTC faculty, staff, and local employers, allowing students to explore STEM and art-related careers through hands-on activities like launching rockets, riding on a hovercraft, making paper, and practicing medical procedures on simulated patients.

Why it matters

The NWTC STEM Fair aims to spark early interest in STEM and art-related careers, as students often make decisions about their academic and career paths as early as middle school. By exposing sixth graders to these fields, the college hopes to encourage more students to pursue STEM and art education and careers in the future, helping to build a stronger regional workforce.

The details

The STEM Fair featured a variety of interactive stations where students could engage in hands-on learning experiences related to STEM and art fields. Activities included launching rockets, riding on a hovercraft, making paper, and practicing medical procedures on simulated patients. The fair was led by NWTC faculty, staff, and local employers, who guided students through the different stations and provided information about potential career paths.

  • The STEM Fair took place on January 28-29, 2026.

The players

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC)

A public technical college serving Northeast Wisconsin, offering associate degree and certificate programs in a variety of fields, including STEM and art-related disciplines.

Sarah Scharenbrock

The manager of admissions at NWTC, who explained the college's goal of sparking early interest in STEM and art careers among sixth grade students.

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What they’re saying

“Once they hit seventh and eighth grade and even high school, we're already further developed in what we're choosing for classes so at sixth grade, we're still interested, we're still intrigued and we're still learning, so our goal is to get it in front of them earlier so that as they get older, they remember that this is an option for them.”

— Sarah Scharenbrock, Manager of Admissions, NWTC

The takeaway

The NWTC STEM Fair demonstrates the college's commitment to inspiring the next generation of STEM and art professionals, recognizing the importance of early exposure and hands-on learning experiences to help students discover their passions and potential career paths.