WWT Hosts Eighth Annual STEM Student Forum to Encourage High-Schoolers to Pursue Technology Careers
ST. LOUIS, MO. (March 9, 2023) – World Wide Technology (WWT), a leading technology solutions provider based in St. Louis, hosted its eighth annual STEM Student Forum on March 4. For 2023, the theme, Making a New World Happen, focused on how schools could use education and technology to create a more sustainable future.
As one of the region's fastest growing technology companies, WWT employs thousands of professionals in the STEM field and provides resources to ensure the increase of future tech leaders. The STEM Student Forum is an initiative dedicated to educating high school students on the importance of STEM disciplines and the opportunities they present, while also creating positive change in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
This year's program included 21 local high schools with 177 participating students. Over 66 volunteers contributed more than 700 hours, including 33 WWT mentors, both in-person and virtually, who supported each school's team.
Christian Brothers College High School received the $10,000 first place prize for its project which tackled environmental and social sustainability by using plastic bottles to create a recycled 3D printer filament. The filament could then be used to create items for the unhoused, such as combs, toothbrushes, razors, tiny house bricks and more.
"The STEM Student Forum has been an eye-opening experience into the strength of critical thought processes and problem-solving skills of the next generation. These brilliant future leaders are passionate about technological advancement and its impact on the betterment of society. Being a mentor has also allowed me to think "differently" about the future of technology. I look forward to being able to mentor many of these students as they pursue internships." – Jessie Ripper, Director, Program Management at WWT.
The Fulton School was recognized with a $5,000 second place prize and Parkway Spark! received $2,500 for placing third. Pattonville High School came in fourth place. Nerinx Hall in fifth place, receiving $2,000 and $1,500, respectively.
WWT would like to congratulate and thank all the schools that participated in the 2023 STEM Student Forum including:
- Althoff Catholic High School
- Christian Brothers College High School (Winner)
- Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience
- The Fulton School (Finalist)
- Hazelwood West High School
- John Burroughs School
- Lindbergh High School
- Metro Academic and Classical High School
- Nerinx Hall High School (Finalist)
- Oakville High School
- Parkway SPARK! Incubator (Finalist)
- Parkway West High School
- Pattonville High School (Finalist)
- Rockwood Summit High School
- SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School
- South Technical High School
- St. John Vianney High School
- STEAM Academy at McCluer South-Berkeley High School
- Sumner High School
- Troy Buchanan High School
- Whitfield School
About World Wide Technology
Founded in 1990, World Wide Technology (WWT), a global technology solutions provider with $17 billion in annual revenue, combines the power of strategy, execution and partnership to accelerate digital transformational outcomes for large public and private organizations around the world. Through its Advanced Technology Center, a collaborative ecosystem of the world's most advanced hardware and software solutions, WWT helps customers and partners conceptualize, test and validate innovative technology solutions for the best business outcomes and then deploys them at scale through its global warehousing, distribution and integration capabilities.
With nearly 9,000 employees and more than 55 locations around the world, WWT's culture, built on a set of core values and established leadership philosophies, has been recognized 11 years in a row by Fortune and Great Place to Work® for its unique blend of determination, innovation and leadership focus on diversity and inclusion. With this culture at its foundation, WWT bridges the gap between business and technology to make a new world happen for its customers, partners and communities.