On Saturday, January 4th, we engaged 400+ K-12 students, parents and volunteers in 60+ hands-on STEM stations at the 2nd Bridge 2 Innovation (B2I) STEM Fest at Destrehan High School. The hands-on STEM activities ignited students' curiosity and clearly inspired future leaders.

Dr. Calvin Mackie, founder and CEO of STEM NOLA | STEM Global Action and his humanoids welcomed participants, parents, guardians, sponsors and volunteers to the January 4, 2025 B2I STEM Fest in Destrehan, LA.

The event was executed by STEM NOLA, 33 professional and college volunteers, and was supported by partners and sponsors, the New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee, Dow, Venture Global LNG, Chevron, the Scratch Foundation, Ochsner Health, and Entergy.

Bridge 2 Innovation is one of the many community programs managed and supported by the New Orleans Super Bowl LIX Host Committee. The Host Committee and partners are rolling out four B2I STEM events, each focused on inspiring and engaging K-12 students throughout the region.

Here's a VIDEO recap of the B2I STEM Fest...

CLICK above to view video highlights of the B2I STEM Fest executed by STEM NOLA at Destrehan High School in St. Charles Parish.

Our Mission:

The mission of STEM NOLA is to expose, engage, and inspire future innovators, creators, makers, and entrepreneurs in grades K-12 through STEM-based activities and opportunities in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

STEM NOLA's NEW StarLab space exhibit exposed, engaged and inspired STEM Fest participants.

STEM NOLA offers a fun and exciting opportunity for students to experience space and Earth science up close with their StarLab planetarium. The StarLab is a portable planetarium that brings the wonders of the night sky right to our participants. Students explore the stars and planets in space, learn about constellations, and even dive deep into Earth science by exploring the layers of the Earth.

This hands-on experience helps students understand science in a fun and immersive way. It's a unique opportunity for STEM Fest participants to learn about astronomy and Earth science in an engaging, interactive environment!

A Bright Future for STEM Education

The B2I STEM Fest in Destrehan not only provided a fun and educational experience but also fostered a greater appreciation for STEM careers among local youth. The event is part of a broader mission by STEM NOLA, whose goal is to expose, engage, and inspire students to pursue careers in innovation, technology, and problem-solving through hands-on STEM activities.

Here’s what made this B2I STEM Fest special:

• 64% of the students engaged were eligible for free or reduced lunch, so everyone had the chance to enjoy STEM, no matter what.
• 203 boys and 147 girls registered, helping make STEM more equal for everyone!
• 33 volunteers helped guide activities, showing students how much fun learning can be.

A Collaborative Effort

The B2I STEM Fest exemplifies the power of collaboration. It was made possible by the generous support collaboration of the New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee, Dow, Chevron, Venture Global LNG, the Scratch Foundation, Ochsner Health and Entergy. These organizations are committed to advancing STEM education and ensuring that students have the tools and opportunities needed to succeed in the evolving workforce.

Donald R. Dunbar, Jr., MS, Assistant Director of Community Engagement, New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee | Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, Leah Brown, Manager of Policy and Government Affairs Manager, Chevron, and Patty Riddlebarger, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility, Entergy, addressed the participants prior to kick off. All stressed the vital importance of STEM education for our future workforce.

Jay Cicero, President & CEO of the New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee | Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation with STEM NOLA's Dr. Calvin Mackie and Floyd James.

Photo credit: Dow

The B2I STEM Fest in Destrehan celebrated the future of STEM in the River Parishes, providing students with the inspiration and resources to realize their full potential. As the STEM Fest wrapped up, there was no doubt that it had made a lasting impact on the students who attended, and it set the stage for future initiatives to continue nurturing STEM talent in the region.

STEM Fest IMPACT...

This map plots the many cities throughout southeast Louisiana where the January 4, 2025 B2I STEM Fest participants came from.

Looking Ahead

The success of the January 4th B2I STEM Fest demonstrates the powerful impact of community-based initiatives in fostering education and innovation. With continued support from partners like the New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee, Dow, Chevron, the Scratch Foundation, Venture Global, Ochsner Health and Entergy, events like this will play a crucial role in shaping the future of STEM education in the River Parishes of Louisiana and beyond.

Next Stop: The FIRST STEM Fest in Jefferson Parish!

We’re already getting ready for our next B2I STEM Fest on January 18, 2025, at Bonnabel High School in Metairie, LA. This will be our first STEM Fest EVER in Jefferson Parish. We’ll have 60+ activities to try again, and we would love to see you there!

CLICK HERE for more information or to register as a participant or volunteer.

For more information about STEM NOLA and future events, visit stemnola.com.

• STEM NOLA | Global Action offers hands-on activities, inquiry-based learning methodology, standards-based pre and post assessment tools and teacher resource and development packages.

• Students will have the opportunity to learn by asking questions, observing demonstrations, completing experiments, building kits and engaging in exciting group projects. 

• Our programs have been correlated to match curriculum requirements for every grade level and are rich in elementary level science content.

• STEM NOLA offers in-school, after-school, community and family-based programming. 

• The diversely themed inquiry-based hands-on programs can be used as a curriculum enhancement or as an introduction to STEM concepts.

• We offer a hassle-free and convenient way for students to experience culturally and environmentally relevant hands-on STEM!



In the past 11+ years, STEM Global Action has engaged more than

175,000+ K-12 Students

25,000 Families

3,000 College Students

5,500 Community & Professional Volunteers