Mississippi STEM Program Newsletter: Local Resources and Guide

Mississippi has two STEM assets that are often overlooked outside the state: NASA's primary rocket engine testing facility and one of the nation's most respected public STEM high schools. Both offer remarkable opportunities for Mississippi students. A STEM newsletter that communicates those resources to families can genuinely change what students and families believe is possible.

NASA Stennis Space Center

NASA's Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi is the agency's primary rocket propulsion testing facility. Every major NASA launch vehicle engine is tested at Stennis, including the Space Launch System engines for the Artemis moon program. Stennis employs engineers, scientists, and technicians and runs active education programs for Mississippi schools.

School visits to Stennis are available, and classroom programs through the Stennis education office bring space science content to Mississippi classrooms. For south Mississippi students, the world's most powerful rocket engines are being tested within driving distance of their school.

Mississippi School for Math and Science

MSMS in Columbus is a free, residential public high school for Mississippi juniors and seniors with exceptional STEM potential. Students from any Mississippi school district can apply. MSMS graduates consistently attend top universities with strong scholarship support. For seventh and eighth graders who show strong interest in STEM, families need to know about MSMS early to prepare a competitive application.

Agricultural science and Mississippi's farm economy

Mississippi is among the top catfish aquaculture states in the country and a major producer of cotton, soybeans, and poultry. Agricultural science in Mississippi connects to biology, chemistry, and environmental science curriculum directly. Mississippi State University's Cooperative Extension Service and its College of Agriculture provide school outreach resources. For rural Mississippi communities, agriculture-connected STEM education resonates with family experience and points to real local careers.

Ingalls Shipbuilding and maritime engineering

Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula is one of the Navy's primary shipbuilders, constructing destroyers, amphibious assault ships, and other vessels. It is one of Mississippi's largest private employers. Shipbuilding requires naval architects, marine engineers, electrical engineers, and manufacturing technology specialists. For south Mississippi students, Ingalls represents a direct local pathway for engineering careers.

Template: Mississippi STEM newsletter excerpt

"Our school is scheduling a field trip to NASA Stennis Space Center in the spring. Students will tour engine testing facilities and learn about the propulsion science behind the Artemis moon program. We are connecting the visit to our physics unit on forces and propulsion. We also want to remind eighth graders and their families: applications for the Mississippi School for Math and Science are due in January. MSMS is a free residential high school for Mississippi students with strong STEM interest. More information is at themsms.org."

Mississippi STEM competitions and recognition

Mississippi has Science Olympiad chapters and the Mississippi Science and Engineering Fair connects to ISEF. FIRST Robotics teams exist in several Mississippi districts. The Mississippi Junior Academy of Science holds annual research presentations. For rural Mississippi schools with limited competition access, the availability of regional events is worth mapping out for families in your newsletter early in the year.

Daystage makes it easy to communicate Mississippi STEM opportunities, from Stennis field trips to MSMS applications, to families throughout the year.