Emerging Technology Institute (ETI), a local innovation HUB for the Department of Defense, is inspiring future technology makers and helping secure internships at the same time. 

ETI has partnered with schools across the country to make direct contact with the next generation of tech workers by offering STEM Innovation Sessions. The company recently set up shop in Hoke County High School to give students a chance to see for themselves what the tech industry has to offer as a potential career field. 

“What it does is allow students to interact with robots, drones, artificial intelligence, computer vision, and what it does as well is, it starts to identify which students have an interest in that, [and see] who wants to learn more about it. So, we can create a pathway for them to either have an internship with us to develop a course program after school or an after school program at their school,” said ETI Founder and President James Freeman.  

ETI worked through the school’s Career and Technical Education Program to get their tech in front of potentially interested students. Over the course of two sessions, students had the ability to take the first steps towards a possible future career. Following words from Freeman about ETI and the Technology field, and a donation ceremony where ETI donated $1,000 to the school’s drone program, students were able to come forward to begin examining, experimenting and experiencing technology for themselves. 

“In the beginning, they were kind of reserved, you know, since COVID, there's not been a lot or any assemblies or all of us coming together in a kind of atmosphere like that so it was real reserved. At first, no one really was talking, no one was responding to questions. So, they definitely had to get warmed up. But then from there he allowed students to come down to the court to get some hands-on experience. They really enjoyed that,” said Career and Technical Education Executive Director Dana Chavis. “It is so important; when they're able to connect to a real person, and to be able to ask questions and touch the equipment and explain where they're coming from, it just makes a world of difference. 

According to Freeman, due to the constant development of technology, it can be hard for school curriculums to adjust to modern day demands. That is where private partnerships like the ETIs STEM Innovation Sessions come into play, but even then, ETI is continuing to find new ways to reach out. 

“Back in the fall, we were awarded a contract from the CDA office to build stem kits and create an online platform for students learn how to operate the kits, and also an escape room environment where the students will come back and utilize their knowledge and tools that they've learned in a competition at our facility,” said Freeman. “So we are going around schools doing STEM Innovation Sessions, to not only inspire students and only that help schools build after school programs, but to see who will be interested in receiving one of these free, no cost kits and which school will be interested in putting the team together to come back and compete against other teams.” 

The competition is expected to take place in summer of 2023 at the ETI facility located in Red Springs. According to their educators, Hoke High School is already expected to participate. 

“As a matter of fact, there was a student who came back the day after, and wanted to make sure I had his name on the list. So yeah, we do have students who are interested in competing. We have teachers who are interested in coaching them. So we just have to decide how we're going to actually bring that group of students together,” shared CTE - Special Populations Coordinator Callie Graham. “We will have another meeting with Mr. Freeman to speak with all those kids who have expressed an interest in competing so yes, we're excited about that and excited that the kids are interested in doing it.” 

Internship opportunities at ETI are also offered to interested students allowing ETI to help students get experience in the field early. 

“You know, sometimes it's hard for students to see themselves in particular fields. Because, you know, maybe they don't see anybody that looks like them in that particular field. But being able to have Mr. Freeman and his team come there, and being able to share conversations with the students was so impactful,” said Chavis. “So this is big for us. We have really begun to launch out into pre- apprenticeships and internships this particular year, and it's part of our district's strategic plan to have more work based learning opportunities for our students. It's part of our department's local application plan to have more work based learning, and so it's very intentional that we are reaching out to businesses and partners to offer opportunities of internships and pre-apprenticeships for our students.”  

Freeman said ETI will continue to travel to interested schools. 

“We're gonna keep doing it, we're gonna keep visiting schools, we're gonna keep going out trying to get students interested in tech, trying to get individuals to jump on the kit. And hopefully what we'll be able to do is inspire some young folks and be able to help the partner defense grow the workforce.”