Boys & Girls Club in Benton Harbor holds third annual STEAM Dream event 

BENTON HARBOR, Mich -- While graduation rates in Benton Harbor are on the rise, Benton Harbor High School is still nearly 20% below state average graduation rate.

Groups like the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Southwest Michigan are working hard to change that by instilling a love of learning in students, especially in the fields of science, technology, art, engineering, and mathematics, collectively known as STEAM.

The club hosted their third annual STEAM Dream event, immersing youth in interactive activities centered around STEAM while introducing them to local professionals and industries, shaping the future of the region.

Throughout the day, students rotated through engaging activity stations designed to spark curiosity, encourage problem-solving, and inspire future career aspirations.

Co-Event Coordinator Kayla Hurse says events like these help students understand concepts through hands-on learning. "When you have events like this, you teach kids the kind of audacity to be creative and to innovate and think critically in ways they haven’t considered before," Hurse said.

Hurse says STEAM careers are in-demand. Community partners specializing in fields related to STEAM connected with students and taught them invaluable skills.

“We try to have that real-world connection for kids so they can see like oh, if I learn that skill set it can translate into a career for me going forward," Hurse said.

Fifth-grader Illa Jackson Dyer has attended the STEAM Dream event every year, and says each year gets better.

“It's like fun and I learn different stuff that I didn’t know before," Dyer said.

Students walk away with new knowledge of career fields they'd never thought of before. Hurse says her goal for students is to feel confident in learning.

"Science and math are typically hard, and to that I say no it’s not. Your brain is a powerful organ, and it functions just as powerfully as anyone else's," Hurse said.