North Carolina Chapter - STEM Outreach at Local Elementary School

The North Carolina Chapter of the Society of Flight Test Engineers recently participated in a Career Exploration event at a local elementary school, where chapter president Lee Bell spoke with each class in the school, from kindergarten through fifth grade, reaching approximately 600 students. The outreach spanned two days and was part of a broader career exploration program featuring several different professions.

During the presentations, students were introduced to flight test engineering and STEM through age-appropriate discussion, questions, and hands-on interaction with actual aircraft parts that they could touch and hold. The event gave students direct exposure to a real-world aviation career they may not have encountered before, while helping them see how science, technology, engineering, and math connect to airplanes, testing, and problem-solving. It was a strong opportunity for the NC SFTE Chapter to support STEM outreach in the community, inspire young students, and highlight the value of flight test engineering to the next generation.