STEMtember kicks off in Tulsa

TULSA — The Tulsa STEM Alliance has set aside the month of September to celebrate Science, Technology, Engineering and Math with a series of free events for teachers, parents, and students.

It kicks off Thursday, September 5th with STEMtember Teacher Night, hosted by KRMG's Dan Potter and Rick Couri, along with Tiffany Alaniz from FOX23.

Other events will offer hands-on demonstrations, science experiments, and educational materials.

Employers around the country are clamoring for more employees with backgrounds and education in STEM.

KRMG spoke with Dr. Beth McQuiston, a board certified neurologist, registered dietitian and medical director for Abbott, a large bio-sciences company headquartered in Illinois.

She says it's estimated that a million STEM-related jobs will open up in the US by 2026.

Her company began an internship program for high school students in 2012, and they've gone out of their way to recruit young women.

“Two thirds of those high school interns are girls that we've encouraged to go into STEM fields,” she recently told KRMG. “Ninety-seven percent of them go on to study STEM in college, and we're very proud to say that we're hiring many of them back into Abbott when they graduate.”

• CLICK HERE for more information on the Abbot High School Internship program
  
• CLICK HERE for a list of the STEMtember activities available in Tulsa