ACEC/MA STEM Task Force Opportunities

We update this page periodically with new opportunities for our members to promote engineering, land surveying, and related careers to K-12 students. Please check back for new opportunities.  (This page is updated as of 2-19-25.)

ACEC/MA STEM Task Force: Short monthly zooms on opportunities to promote engineering & land surveying to K-12 Students with more about the leads below. Contact us to join the ACEC/MA STEM Task Force.

Upcoming 2025 Opportunities for your firm to promote STEM careers:

High School Internships for Seniors

• Now is the time of year to start thinking about High School Internships! Spring is right around the corner, and this season serves as a great opportunity for High School seniors to spark their interest in the engineering field. If you are looking for ideas how to employ a high school intern, check out the attached interview with ACEC/MA Board Member Hillary Lacirignola, PE. 

Boston STEM Expo - Reggie Lewis Center - 3/8/2025

• Boston Public Schools will hold the 79th Annual Boston Public Schools/ Massachusetts State Region VI Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Fair. This is one of the oldest traditions in the Boston Public Schools! This year’s event will be held at Roxbury Community College’s Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center on Tremont Street.  See links below for more details 
  • STEM Fair Memo from the Superintendent 
  • Science Fair-Get Started Poster
  • Middle School Sign-up
  • High School Sign-up
  • Sign up to be a STEM Fair Project Mentor

Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts – 5/3/2025

• It's a STEM takeover at camp! Explore fun hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math challenges throughout Camp Cedar Hill from local program partners. Participants will use a map to choose their adventure and which topics to explore. Meet and chat with STEM professionals while digging deeper into topics you love or discovering new ones you may not have known about!
  • https://www.gsema.org/en/sf-events-repository/2025/stem-fest--waltham-.html

Massachusetts Science + Engineering Fair (MSEF)

Start here:  https://scifair.com/

Support and inspire local students! Student participants are thrilled to meet STEM professionals, often for the first time, to review and discuss their projects. Regardless of placement, students benefit from the invaluable experience of presenting their work.

What is the judging experience like?

• Over several hours, each judge reviews 4-6 projects which includes a student presentation and Q&A session. Each student is judged multiple times.
• Judges utilize a rubric (with point allocations) that guides their assessment
• Judges commit to providing a rigorous, yet encouraging, interview process for students

High School State Fair Judging - April 4, 2025 at Gillette Stadium, Foxboro

• Judges must hold a graduate degree and/or have 5+ years working experience in their selected subject category
• Subject Categories include but aren't limited to: Biology, Chemistry, Behavioral Sci, Earth/Space Sci, Engineering, Math, and CompSci.
• Judges are required to attend a virtual orientation session: TBA.

Register to be a judge: https://msefhs.zfairs.com/app/user/new/Judge/

Middle School State Fair - May 10, 2025 at Clark University Worcester

• Judges must be in a STEM field
• College students majoring in a STEM field are eligible to judge 
• Judges must watch an orientation video in advance

https://msefms.zfairs.com/app/user/new/Judge/

Applied Learning HUB Spring Student Showcase – The TRACK @ New Balance - 5/9/2025

• Students from across Massachusetts (grades 5-12) will gather to share their STEM, Civics, and Applied Learning projects with industry professionals like you. Here’s what you can expect from the experience:
  • The day will kick off with a short briefing and grab-and-go breakfast so you can meet your fellow judges and be ready to confidently engage with students.
  • You’ll interact with teams of students as they share their projects, offer suggestions, and share more about your own career.
  • The Showcase will close with a celebration of winning teams, and of everyone’s achievements!
  • More info: https://one8appliedlearninghub.org/events/industry-showcase2025/#

Model Bridge and Future City Competitions

• Both Model Bridge and Future City will go live in June 2025! Information and sign ups are in the link below.   
  • https://engineeryourfuture.org/volunteer-opportunities

Greater Lowell Technical High School Outreach - ACEC/MA Working Group

ACEC/MA President Dawn Connelly is spearheading a new STEM Working Group for outreach to local technical high schools to see how ACEC firms can help grow interest in the engineering industry. The group is focusing its first outreach efforts on Greater Lowell Technical High School. Contact Us for more info.

MassHire Metro North Workforce Board - to Find High School and College Interns + other resources

ACEC/MA's STEM Task Force hosted a representative of STEM Programs at the MassHire Metro North Workforce Board   who discussed how to contact local Workforce Boards and STEM Networks in each region of the state to find and host high school and certain college interns.  

Below are some resources with information on how to contact local Workforce Boards and STEM Networks in each region of Massachusetts. As a more in-depth example of what an employer's role might look like in a high school internship, MassHire provided the Employer Host Handbook that has been adapted from the state. 

Action: Check out the resource materials, If any firms in the Metro North region are looking to get involved, they can connect with  Meagan Yeku, Senior Manager of Youth Employer Partnerships at MassHire  

Career Center and Workforce Area Map
MassHire Workforce Boards are able to apply for a number of state grants focused on career and workforce development for local youth, and can be a good place to start when searching for local internship programs to take part in. Use this map to help determine what MassHire region you are located in. Note that this is just an image, and actual MassHire Workforce Board contacts are accessible under the next heading of this email.
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/career-center-and-workforce-area-map

Connect With Your Local MassHire Workforce Board
Use this guide to contact your local Workforce Board. Be sure to double-check your region with the Workforce Area Map listed above!
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/connect-with-your-local-masshire-workforce-board

Regional STEM Networks
In many regions, STEM Networks work directly with local K-12 educators and have school contacts. If you are looking to get in contact with a specific local school, reaching out to your regional STEM Network Director is a great place to start.
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/regional-stem-networks

Engineer Your Future: BSCES Outreach Activities: 

Sign up to be a judge, mentor, or volunteer for upcoming events. Advance CORI checks required:

One8 Applied Learning Hub (formerly Mass STEM Hub) Volunteer Opportunities

ACE Mentor Program: 

Founded in 1994, the ACE Mentor Program of America (ACE) is a free, award-winning, afterschool program designed to attract high school students into pursuing careers in the Architecture, Construction and Engineering industry, including skilled trades. ACE is a federation of more than 75 affiliates (chapters), operating in 38 states and Canada, and largely based in metropolitan areas. A national office supports the affiliate programs.

• Set Up a Virtual or In-Person Class Visit:  Engage a group of children in a rewarding engineering experience. More on Discover E >

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Massachusetts Department of Education Resources

Massachusetts STEM Advisory Council
The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Advisory Council is established by M.G.L. Chapter 6, Section 218 to expand access to high-quality STEM education for students across the Commonwealth.

Regional STEM Networks
Created in 2004, the state’s Regional STEM Networks serve as hubs for connecting educators, community leaders and industry partners to further excite and energize students about opportunities in STEM subjects.

Metro North Workforce Board Seeks STEM Employers for HS Interns: No employer cost, completely grant funded; interns work about 100 hours in Spring or Summer More >

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General Resources for your firm to promote STEM careers:

Engineer Classroom Visit Presentation Module to Promote #STEM Careers:  As your firm explores STEM activities to provide for K-12 classrooms in 2024, check out this resource from ACEC/MA's Leadership Education Committee: a Module you can use for classroom visits in your community: More >

- Check Out DiscoverE  for more resources and ideas.

For Land Surveyor Visits to Classrooms: MALSCE's PPT on the Land Surveying Profession - You can download this and adapt for school and college presentations. This is a large file that will take a minute to download.

- More about Land Surveying with Resources for Classrooms on Be a Surveyor

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ACEC/MA STEM TASK Force: Short monthly zoom on opportunities to promote engineering & land surveying to K-12 Students. Contact us to join the ACEC/MA STEM Task Force.