STEM Outreach Center

The STEM Outreach Center serves as the hub of Capitol Technology University’s high impact outreach ecosystem, providing hands on education and workforce development experiences for K–12 students, community college learners, university students, and the educators who support them. The Center’s mission is rooted in a simple idea: inspire curiosity, build capability, and prepare future leaders for careers across the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Vision and Goals

The Center’s vision is to educate and develop the next generation of STEM leaders by leveraging Capitol Technology University’s strengths in space science, astronomy, engineering, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. Working at the local, regional, and national levels, the Center aims to:

• Provide hands‑on educational experiences that introduce middle‑school, high‑school, community‑college, and university students to STEM fields while expanding their interest in STEM career pathways.
• Deliver leadership‑development opportunities, in partnership with the Innovation and Leadership Institute, to prepare students to become future leaders in STEM industries.
• Promote awareness of STEM workforce needs and leadership opportunities across the region and beyond.

Funding Partners

The Center’s work is strengthened by Funding Partners—organizations and corporations committed to expanding access to STEM education and supporting Capitol Technology University’s mission to inspire K–12 students to pursue STEM careers. Past partners include Lockheed Martin, the Maryland Space Grant Consortium, The Anthony & Anna L. Carozza Foundation, and the Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation.

Current Programs

Capitol Technology University delivers a comprehensive, high‑impact STEM outreach ecosystem designed to inspire curiosity, build capability, and strengthen the future workforce. Across every program, our goal is the same: give students authentic, hands‑on experiences that connect technology, innovation, and national‑security awareness to real career pathways.

TechXperience (Comp Sci/AI)

TechXperience immerses prospective students in the world of computer science and artificial intelligence through coding workshops, tech talks, and guided lab exploration. It’s a dynamic introduction to the technologies shaping tomorrow’s digital landscape.

STEM Challenge (middle school)

STEM Challenge brings the Capitol community together for a full day of creativity and discovery. With student‑ and faculty‑designed demonstrations, puzzles, and competitions, participants experience the excitement of engineering, science, and problem‑solving in action.

CapTech Connect! (high school)

CapTech Connect! (ConneXts) welcomes high school students to campus for an interactive look at Capitol Tech’s academic pathways. Through hands‑on activities and direct engagement with faculty, students explore careers in cybersecurity, computer science, engineering, and emerging technologies.

Cyber Saturdays (cyber security)

Cyber Saturdays open our state‑of‑the‑art cyber labs to high school and community‑college students, offering engaging activities that highlight the role of cybersecurity in everyday life. These sessions demystify cyber defense and spark interest in one of the nation’s most critical fields.

VOLT (engineering)

Vision of Leadership in Technology (VOLT) gives students a powerful, hands‑on introduction to engineering and innovation. Through interactive challenges and real‑world problem‑solving, participants explore how electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering drive the technologies that shape modern life. VOLT is designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and inspire the next generation of engineers and technologists.

Aviation Visitors Days (pilot)

Aviation Visit Days are built around one idea: students should understand the full ecosystem behind modern aviation — including the cyber and policy decisions that keep it secure. As the FCC considers update restrictions on foreign‑made drones and routers, the aviation community is reminded how tightly technology, regulation, and national security are intertwined. Our Aviation Visit Days give students a front‑row view into that reality, preparing them for careers where these decisions matter.

Together, these programs form a powerful continuum of outreach, one that builds awareness, develops talent, and prepares students to lead in fields that define our nation’s.

Contact Information

To partner with the Center or request additional information, please contact:

William Butler, DSc
Vice President for Cyber Science Outreach and Partnership
whbutler@captechu.edu