Wright-Patterson, Stebbins High School join forces to support STEM education

  • Published
  • By Sarah Amato
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Col. Sean Brazel, left, 88th Mission Support Group commander, speaks to a career tech class at Stebbins High School in Riverside, Ohio, Sept. 7, 2023. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Stebbins kicked off a five-year innovative partnership in August, which has the high school’s career tech students completing various projects supporting the installation’s needs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class James Johnson)

Col. Sean Brazel, left, 88th Mission Support Group commander, speaks to a career tech class at Stebbins High School in Riverside, Ohio, Sept. 7, 2023. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Stebbins kicked off a five-year innovative partnership in August, which has the high school’s career tech students completing various projects supporting the installation’s needs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class James Johnson)
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WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has partnered with Stebbins High School to offer its career technology students opportunities to receive hands-on training supporting various projects on one of the largest installations in the Air Force.

The five-year innovative partnership, which began in August, will have the Riverside-based high school advising its career technology students studying manufacturing and production, construction and heating, ventilation and air conditioning on completing various projects from start to finish supporting the installation’s needs.

The collaboration will further enhance the high school’s science, technology, engineering and math education opportunities for its career technology students.

“The partnership between Stebbins High School and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a huge win for both involved parties,” said Brandon Dixon, chief of the 88th Force Support Squadron’s Community Services Flight, which oversees the partnership for the installation. “Wright-Patterson Air Force Base gets to benefit from the skills and knowledge of the students and Stebbins gets to provide the students with real-life projects that they can see used on base and be proud of.”

All materials supporting installation projects will be funded by the 88th Air Base Wing. All projects will be evaluated, reviewed and used on base.

Col. Sean Brazel, left, 88th Mission Support Group commander, speaks to Jeff Berk, Stebbins High School assistant principal and career tech director, at a site visit at the Riverside, Ohio, educational center, Sept. 7, 2023. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Stebbins kicked off a five-year innovative partnership in August, which has the high school’s career tech students completing various projects supporting the installation’s needs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class James Johnson)

Col. Sean Brazel, left, 88th Mission Support Group commander, speaks to Jeff Berk, Stebbins High School assistant principal and career tech director, at a site visit at the Riverside, Ohio, educational center, Sept. 7, 2023. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Stebbins kicked off a five-year innovative partnership in August, which has the high school’s career tech students completing various projects supporting the installation’s needs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class James Johnson)
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The partnership officially kicked off Sept. 7 during a site visit with 88th Mission Support Group officials to Stebbins High School.

Jeff Berk, Stebbins assistant principal and career tech director, said the partnership has been in the works for years but delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“This is a great way for us to connect with Wright-Patt and work beside each other while giving our students work experience in the real-world work environment and industries in the Dayton area,” Berk said. “It gives our students a chance to get that experience and to give back to the community.”

Col. Sean Brazel, 88 MSG commander, said the partnership is a great example of the wing’s commitment to community outreach.

“Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has always had a great relationship with the surrounding communities,” he said. “This is an incredible opportunity for us as an installation to bring Stebbins on the base to see what we do and what we are capable of.”