On Friday, Dec. 12, Burroughs High School transformed its classrooms into presentation spaces as students participated in the annual STEM Day, exposing students to careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
STEM Day replaced regular instruction for students in 74 math, science, CTE and special education classes to rotate through two 25-minute presentations during each class period.
Presenters from China Lake visited classrooms across campus, sharing their career paths, current projects, and insights into government and STEM-related jobs.
According to STEM Teacher Damien Jacotin, Burroughs’ teacher and robotics instructor, who teaches multiple STEM classes, the primary goal of the event was to to expose students to the available careers on base and what the possible job opportunities are in the government. He said he hopes students left the presentations with a clearer understanding of what STEM actually offers beyond the classroom.
Jacotin emphasized the importance of persistence for students interested in pursuing STEM fields. “Keep trying,” he said. “It’s going to be hard pursuing a career in STEM, but it isn’t magic. It’s just a lot of hard work and dedication.”
Students responded positively to the event, emphasizing both the engaging format and the wide range of topics.
Senior Chase Rogers said STEM Day helped make learning more interactive.
“I personally enjoy STEM Day because it is engaging and helps not just me, but everyone learn lots of interesting things,” said Rogers, who attended presentations covering compounds, ciphers, and AI and technology upgrades for the future.“They were very interesting and fun to be a part of.”
Jason Zehendner, director of the Electronic Warfare Systems Division at the Naval Base’s Echo/South Range, presented to CTE students.
“The purpose of my demonstration was to share my excitement for STEM with the next working generation of Ridgecrest, hoping they choose STEM careers with us,” Zehendner said.
Zehendner believes events like STEM Day help make technical fields more accessible to students. “None of it is magic,” he said. “Any one of us can do these things. We make the world better through STEM.”
He added that the event was largely successful, noting that while there were “no big challenges,” there were a few moments where students became overly excited during presentations.
Throughout the day, students were exposed to a wide range of STEM topics, including engineering, electronics, physics, and applied mathematics. By hearing directly from professionals currently working in STEM fields, students gained insight into both the challenges and rewards associated with those careers.
Organizers hope that STEM Day will encourage students to consider future paths in science and technology, whether through higher education, government work, or industry. By bringing professionals into the classroom, Burroughs aims to show students that STEM careers are not distant or unattainable, but achievable through effort, curiosity, and dedication.
