Bill Arp Elementary School hosted its 11th Annual STEAM Day on April 4, transforming the entire 
school into a hands-on laboratory of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM).
Students at the school had the opportunity to engage with 34 presenters from a variety of fields, helping them explore potential career paths and fueling their curiosity for future learning.
Among the presenters were representatives from the University of West Georgia Innovation Lab, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Douglas County Fire Department, 8 Legged Scales, Google, Banfield Veterinarian, SiteOne landscaping, GBI and the West GA Regional Library STEAM Engine. These professionals shared their expertise, demonstrating how STEAM principles play a key role in their everyday work. Students were particularly excited to hear from Bill Arp alumni, Raegan Claunch, Abby Daniel, Taylor Evans, and Bryleigh Schival who returned to share their STEAM Careers and how their time at the school shaped their current careers.
One of the highlights of the day was the participation of Alexander High School, which presented three unique stations to showcase the wide variety of STEAM disciplines. The stations included food science experiments, a deep dive into agricultural education, and the Bird Beak Adaptation Lab, designed to teach students about adaptations in nature.
Nearly 90 middle and high school volunteers assisted with hands-on stations throughout the day, giving younger students the chance to experience a range of activities that challenged their creativity and critical thinking. Some of the most popular stations included the marble coaster challenge, pollination station, Boxitects (building structures with cardboard), zip line design, and straw tower building challenges.
As students moved from station to station, the excitement was palpable. 
“STEAM day was super fun this year, and had many different steam related projects and presentations” says Rebecca Gorzynski, a fifth grade student, “I knew that STEAM had a lot of different jobs relating to it, but i didn't know that there were so many, and that they could be this interesting.”
The day’s activities concluded with an unforgettable finale. The school’s entire student body of approximately 650 students gathered outside to witness the launch of two rockets, soaring high into the air in a spectacular display of engineering and physics.
“The event was a huge success, with many teachers and parents expressing how inspiring it was for the students to see real-world applications of the concepts they’re learning in the classroom,” said Program Challenge teacher Amy Dobbs, who oversees the event. “By blending fun with education, STEAM Day not only showcased the value of these subjects but also sparked new interests and aspirations among Bill Arp’s students.”
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