By Okon Ekpenyong

Some of the engineering, mathematics, aerospace, medicine, information technology, and scientific diagrams or models displayed on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at the Ohio Statehouse by Choose Ohio First Scholarship recipients could be the landscape that shapes the future.

Ohio Lieutenant Governor, Jon Husted, attended the Choose Ohio First Showcase event sponsored by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, where the students presented their model projects.

“As our economy grows, we need to find more women and minority students majoring in STEM so that the STEM talent pool can continue to grow. Choosing Ohio First is one of the critical pillars of Ohio Portfolio’s efforts to do so. It has gradually increased its diversity,” Lt Governor Husted told the New American Magazine.

Moreover, Husted noted that fewer students are studying STEM now than in the past because some employers are willing to hire people without a four-year or master’s degree, meaning they prefer on-the-job training. Some students choose not to rank up college loans.

Furthermore, Husted thanked his wife for advocating for STEM since she once participated in one as a high school student.

In a nutshell, the program provides scholarships to future innovators. It works with institutions across the state to ensure they have all the necessary resources for every student who comes through their front door. Such resources are essential because it is the gateway to help a student be better prepared and ready for the workforce and contribute to the economic growth of Ohio.

Some of the students were the recipients of the Choose Ohio First Scholarship. The opportunity can connect students with STEM programs in the state and find opportunities with local companies via an internship or externship and help them remain employed following graduation.

During the event, keynote speakers included Lieutenant Governor Husted, Chancellor Randy Gardner, responsible for the Ohio Department of Higher Education, and Andy Aichele, senior director of Education and Engagement for the Center for Science Industry.

They spoke on the importance of STEM education and congratulated all the scholarship recipients, discussed the program’s success, and what is being done at the state level to provide additional funding for the program.

Each poster describes the modeling work the scholars developed, which may lead to future discoveries needed to change the landscape of the STEM industry.

Ohio Higher Education Chancellor Randy Gardner and the DeWine-Husted administration are committed to increasing that number. Gardner served as an Ohio legislator for a long time. He also taught secondary history and government, so his office is working on a comprehensive way to find out where the disparities exist and take the necessary steps to reduce them.

Keeping students in STEM-related programs from having to pay out-of-pocket tuition is the mission of the Choose Ohio First program.

It also awards institutions with grants to continue funding their STEM Department. Among the colleges that received funding in January of this year was Ohio Northern University in Ada and Kent State University in Kent. Wright State received almost 720K for their department as well.

In the Wallet Hub ranking of the best and worst metro areas for STEM, Cincinnati, Ohio, ranks much higher at 11th place in the nation than other cities in Ohio based on professional opportunities, STEM friendliness, and quality of life.

According to the report, Columbus ranked 19th, Cleveland ranked 51, Dayton ranked 56, Toledo ranked 77, Arkon ranked 85, and Youngstown ranked 89. According to the Wadsworth K-12 updates, the state now has 69 STEM schools, both public and private.

The gathering played a significant role in strengthening the state STEM programs and acknowledging and encouraging new innovators to continue finding ways to make waves in the area of their interest.

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