Auburn Engineering hosts Huntsville students for STEM career exploration
Published: Apr 9, 2025 10:45 PM
By Carla Nelson
Auburn University’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering recently welcomed middle school students from the Huntsville Learning Center’s STREAM Team program for a day of hands-on STEM exploration.
The visit, coordinated by Allison Ledford, assistant research professor in industrial and systems engineering, aimed to expose students, many from underserved communities, to educational and career pathways.
Ledford, who volunteers with the STREAM Team in Huntsville, said the visit was designed to inspire students to dream big and see what’s possible in STEM and manufacturing careers.
“The STREAM Team and ICAMS are both about exposure to the art of what is possible,” Ledford said. “When students walk through a space like ICAMS and get to see robots, 3D scanners and real-world applications of technology, it helps them visualize a future they hadn’t considered. It’s not just about seeing cool tech — it’s about helping them picture themselves as the people operating and designing that tech.”
During their visit, students toured Auburn’s Brown-Kopel Center, Charles E. Davis Aerospace Engineering Hall and the Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (ICAMS). They also enjoyed a classic Auburn tradition: a visit to Toomer’s Drugs for lemonade.
Ray Allister, executive director of the Huntsville Learning Center, said the experience was eye-opening for the students and him.
“Our students were blown away by the complexity and interconnectivity of the systems at ICAMS,” Allister said. “They especially loved the 3D scanning demonstration. It completely redefined what they thought a robot was.”
He noted the impact of the ICAMS team’s enthusiasm.
“The energy of the guides really pulled the kids in,” he said. “They felt like they were taking a step into the future. Learning about how R1universities like Auburn work and that graduate-level education can be accessible without debt — that was a revelation for all of us.”
For many of the students, this was their first time on a college campus. Ledford said the impact of that exposure can be life-changing.
“Right before the tour, I asked them what they pictured for themselves after high school,” she said. “Many of them had never even thought that far ahead. That’s why experiences like this matter. We can’t expect students to pursue what they’ve never seen.”
Gabrielle Bryant, an 11-year-old member of the STREAM Team, said the visit made her see manufacturing in a new light.
“I didn’t really know what manufacturing was before,” Bryant said. “Now, I can see myself working with robots or designing things. I like the idea of making something that people can use.”
Media Contact: , cmn0023@auburn.edu, 3347400221
During their visit, the students toured Auburn’s Brown-Kopel Center, Charles E. Davis Aerospace Engineering Hall and the Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (ICAMS).
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