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Building Self-Esteem Through STEM Education for Middle and High School Students

January 7, 2026

At EdforTech, we believe STEM isn’t just about circuits and code — it’s about building confidence, connection, and community. That’s why we were proud to support Class Matters Inc. for their powerful event:

Dr. Darron Lamkin holds an E-STEAM event in Oklahoma City to 250 middle and high school students

E-STEAM: Self-Esteem Through STEM, held at the Innovation Hall in Oklahoma City, OK on December 5th, 2025. Together, we helped deliver hands-on STEM activities that combined technical skills with life lessons — all rooted in purpose.

Creating Equitable Access to STEM Education Through Nonprofit Partnerships

Class Matters‘ ESTEAM event brought together 233 middle and high school students from across Oklahoma. Students from 9 different schools, including Cristo Rey, Classen SAS, and Del City, gathered at Innovation Hall for a one-of-a-kind experience.

The energy was electric while middle and high school students gathered for a unique experience that blended hands-on STEM with life skills development and community service.

Hands-On STEM Activities That Empower Students and Build Character

The event’s format? Fast-paced, engaging, and impactful.

Students rotated through high-energy STEM stations, each one inspired by a character trait from the “Fruits of the Spirit” — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. With just 7 minutes at each stop, every moment counted.

EdforTech helped Darron Lamkin, Ed. D. of the non-profit Class Matters, Inc. plan the event, prepare the STEM kits and materials, create teacher training and station instructions for activities like:

Drone flights and races
Rocket launchers and touch-sensitive tech experiments using everyday objects
Wind-powered circuit fans
Robot mazes and races

Each station was a moment to grow in confidence, collaborate with peers, and connect STEM skills to real-world meaning.

Real-World STEM Mentoring Opportunities from Industry Leaders

Students learning electrical circuits with Boeing professionals at E-STEAM STEM activity

This wasn’t just a day of fun and learning — it was also about showing students where STEM can take them.

Students received mentoring and career coaching from professionals at:

The Boeing Company
One Gas
Tinker Air Force Base
FAA

By connecting students with role models in STEM careers, the event offered a powerful message: You belong here. You matter. Your future is bright.

STEM Events for Underserved Students That Make a Social Impact

Students assembling You Matter care packages for shelter residents at E-STEAM community service station

But this event went far beyond robotics and resistors.

Together, students created over 280 “You Matter” care packages for residents in three at-risk shelters. These packages, filled with hygiene products and winter essentials, were more than just gifts — they were reminders that service and science go hand-in-hand.

The combination of STEM learning and social-emotional development made this event unforgettable — and transformational.

How EdforTech Supports STEM Education and Nonprofit Events Like ESTEAM

At EdforTech, we’re proud to support programs like these — because when STEM meets self-worth, amazing things happen. We provided educational consulting services to help plan the event, custom lesson plans, materials, and training for the mentors to assist Darron Lamkin in creating these impressive results:

👏 233 middle and high school students empowered
🎯 10 immersive STEM stations
💡 Hands-on mentoring from 4 leading organizations
💌 282 shelter residents supported

👨‍🏫 Dozens of volunteers and mentors inspiring the next generation

A Huge Thank You to Class Matters

Led by the unstoppable Darron Lamkin and a village of dedicated mentors and volunteers, this ESTEAM event reminds us why we do what we do. We’re honored to have played a small part in a very big impact made by Class Matters Inc..

Let’s Bring More Hands-On STEM Events to Your School or Community

Want to create your own student-led STEM event or partner on a project like this? Let’s collaborate.

EdforTech is ready to help you inspire, equip, and uplift your students through the power of STEM. Our experienced team can help you plan a successful event.

We offer:
Proven, scalable standards-aligned curriculum
Instructor training and classroom support
Robots that last for several years to support your programs

Bring meaningful STEM learning to your students. Contact EdforTech to learn more.

💡 STEM isn’t just about solving equations. It’s about showing every student they matter — in school, in life, and in the future.

FAQs about Class Matters Inc.

What is Class Matters Inc?

Class Matters Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that strives to inspire change through its vision of “Empowering, Our Future, One Teen at a Time.” Its mission is to develop and nurture future engineers, entrepreneurs, and leaders who embrace their potential and enable others’ full potential. Class Matters uses its seven pillars to create and/or strengthen opportunities that build and prepare a pipeline of workforce-ready or college-ready youth in Science, Technology, Engineering, and/or Math (STEM) plus medicine for middle and high school students.

What does ESTEAM stand for in the Class Matters program?

ESTEAM stands for “Self-Esteem through STEM.” It’s a signature event hosted by Class Matters Inc. that blends hands-on STEM education with character-building activities. The goal is to promote teamwork, personal growth, and leadership through science, technology, engineering, and math.

Who participates in Class Matters events like ESTEAM?

Events like ESTEAM are designed for middle and high school students, particularly from underserved or underrepresented communities. In the December 5th event, 233 students from 9 different schools in the Oklahoma City area participated.

What programs does Class Matters provide?

Class Matters provides in-person, out-of-school, virtual, and informal STEM enrichment programs. These programs influence STEM access and identity for underrepresented youth facing academic or behavioral challenges through hands-on skill development activities, peer-to-near-peer mentor-driven academic support, and reflective character refinement.

How does Class Matters Inc. support social-emotional learning (SEL)?

Class Matters integrates SEL by aligning activities with the Fruits of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Each STEM station is designed to reflect these values, helping students develop both technical and life skills.

What kinds of STEM activities are included in their programs?

Students participate in interactive, hands-on activities such as flying drones, building wind-powered circuits, and creating touch-sensitive computer keys using household materials. These activities are paired with mentoring and lessons in teamwork, character, and confidence.

How can I support or partner with Class Matters Inc?

You can support Class Matters Inc. by volunteering at events like ESTEAM, becoming a mentor or speaker, donating supplies or funding, or partnering through your business or organization. Visit the Class Matters Inc. website to learn more or get involved.

(This article was generated as a collaborative effort between the human author, Linda Nichols-Plowman, CEO of EDforTech and the AI assistants, Chat GPT 5 and Claude Sonet).

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