Contributed
Heart of Florida United Way hosted 300 Seminole County middle schoolers for its second annual – and the county’s inaugural – Future United STEAM Day. The event brought students to the Seminole State College of Florida Sanford/Lake Mary Campus for interactive workshops highlighting career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM) and introduced them to the college experience.
Throughout the day, students rotated through hands-on activities and live demonstrations to learn about real-world careers, emerging industries, latest innovations in technology, and workforce skills. A collaborative effort with community leaders in healthcare, technology, and education, Future United STEAM Day is designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the rapidly evolving digital economy.
“At Heart of Florida United Way, Future United STEAM Day is about helping students see what is possible for their future,” said Kelly Astro, senior vice president of community impact, Heart of Florida United Way. “We want students to experience firsthand how science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics connect to exciting, real-world careers, while also helping them understand the educational pathways that can lead them there. For many of these students, this will be their first time stepping onto a college campus, and our hope is that the experience sparks curiosity, builds confidence, and helps them begin to see themselves as the future innovators, creators, and workforce leaders of Central Florida.”
Students from local middle schools such as Greenwood Lakes, Jackson Heights, Markham Woods, Millennium, Teague and Tuskawilla engaged directly with industry professionals to learn about career pathways. This year’s partners include:
Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA), Innovation Station, Orlando Health, Orlando Math Circle, Randall Construction, Seminole County Government Fire, Seminole County Government Watershed Management, Seminole County Government/Landfill and Water Management, Seminole State College of Florida and Smart City.
The Future United STEAM Day is an extension of Heart of Florida’s United Way’s Digital Horizons initiative, which focuses on preparing the community for an increasingly technologically-driven workforce. Last year’s inaugural event was held at Valencia College’s West Campus, and 250 students from Orange County middle schools participated. Heart of Florida United Way plans to host its first FUSD event for Osceola County middle school students and the second annual event for Orange County middle school students in the fall of 2026.
