Okcoy Middle expands STEAM with fab lab equipment after Volkswagen ELAB award

Okcoy Middle School leaders said a recent award of a Volkswagen ELAB and local partnerships expanded STEAM access and equipment for students across the school.

Jamie Thomasson, the school's STEAM coordinator, explained STEAM to podcast hosts: "steam is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, art, and math." She described the lab as a hands-on space and said Okcoy is "a fab lab and we're working... to become an established fab lab through MIT," with "3D printers, we have laser cutters, we learn how to sew and do embroidery and we've got a lot of new woodworking tools." Student Kellyanne "Kiki" Reyes described hands-on experience and SkillsUSA participation as channels to career exploration.

Dr. Corey Lindberg said the school applied for a competitive ELAB award and that Volkswagen and local partners provided equipment to broaden access: "Volkswagen has generously provided that. We got some great equipment... and really just expands our STEAM program to now all the students... not just the students in STEAM classes."

Why it matters: leaders said the equipment provides career-context learning and broader access—features they link to both academic engagement and future opportunities for students.

Next steps: staff said they will continue integrating fab-lab projects into grade-level work and expand community-facing programming through the new equipment.