NCRF brings STEAM expo and esports to Los Angeles students

National College Resources Foundation will host its 13th Annual Students Think S.T.E.A.M. Expo & E-Sports on Friday at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, giving students hands-on exposure to careers in aviation, robotics, AI, gaming and other fast-growing fields. The free event also includes scholarship opportunities for high school juniors and seniors.

Why it matters: - The Expo aims to connect Los Angeles students with career paths in fields that are hiring now, including aerospace, robotics, artificial intelligence and gaming. - Southern California’s technical job market is a major draw for the event. California labor-market projections estimate 3,250 aerospace engineering job openings in Los Angeles County between 2022 and 2032. - Regional pay levels add to the appeal. Aerospace engineers in Los Angeles County had an hourly wage of nearly $80 in the first quarter of 2026. - Aerospace engineering and operations technician roles, which typically require an associate degree, had an hourly wage of more than $46.

What happened: - National College Resources Foundation will host the 13th Annual Students Think S.T.E.A.M. Expo & E-Sports on Friday, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. - The event will take place at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, 400 West Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles. - The Expo is free and open to students of all backgrounds and their families. - NCRF designed the event as a field-trip opportunity for elementary, middle and high school students, as well as youth groups and families. - Dr. Theresa Price, NCRF founder and CEO, said the event is meant to help students see and experience career paths they may not otherwise encounter.

The details: - Students will meet industry experts through interactive exhibits, hands-on activities and seminars. - The program will cover science, technology, engineering, arts, agriculture, aviation, aerospace, artificial intelligence, mathematics and E-Sports. - NCRF said the Expo is meant to show how classroom subjects translate into real-world industries and careers. - High school juniors and seniors will have opportunities to win scholarships tied to the Students Think S.T.E.A.M. program. - Sponsors and partners supporting those scholarships include America’s Navy, U.S. Army, Foundation Clothing, Los Angeles Community College District, Carollo Cares, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, SoCalGas, Southern California Edison and Columbia College of Chicago. - NCRF also runs a mobile S.T.E.A.M. classroom with computers, a 3D printer and interactive learning tools. - The organization also operates a traveling museum on African Americans in aviation, featuring the Tuskegee Airmen. - The museum is curated and directed by the son of Chauncey Spencer, who, with Dale White, met with Senator Truman in a meeting that helped lead to the integration of the Air Corps, later the Air Force. - More information is available at NCRF's website or by calling 877-427-4100. - Media members interested in covering the Expo, interviewing Dr. Theresa Price or requesting credentials are asked to contact Melanie Eke Washington. - NCRF is promoting the event and related programs on Instagram, YouTube and other social platforms, including NCRF TV on YouTube and NCRF's donation page.

Between the lines: - NCRF is pushing a broader version of STEAM that blends disciplines instead of separating them, which reflects a workforce message: creativity and technical skills now overlap. - The scholarship component gives the Expo a direct college-and-career pipeline, not just an awareness role. - The aviation museum and mobile classroom extend NCRF’s reach beyond one-day events and into ongoing community education.

What's next: - Students, families and schools can attend the free Expo on Friday. - NCRF will continue using the event, its mobile classroom and its museum to recruit students into college and career pathways. - High school juniors and seniors attending the Expo may compete for scholarships tied to the program.

The bottom line: - NCRF is using a free Los Angeles event to turn STEAM from an abstract idea into a direct look at jobs, pay and education pathways.