Spotlight

The United Parents Group (UPG) hosted its districtwide Cheltenham STEM Career Fair on Saturday, April 18 at Cheltenham High School, welcoming more than 150 students in grades 6-12 along with their parents and guardians for a day of exploration, learning, and community connection.

Families began the morning with refreshments and a vibrant STEM Vendor Marketplace, where more than 15 educational partners shared resources, programs, and opportunities. Participating organizations included The Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem, Accel Academy, Cheltenham Libraries, Arcadia University, Penn State University - Abington, and Montgomery County Community College, among others.

The program opened with remarks from UPG Vice President Alycia Kinchloe, Esq., followed by CSD Director of Teaching and Learning ShaVon Savage, Esq., who highlighted CSD's K–12 STEM continuum and celebrated Cheltenham’s recent PJAS and MCSRC science fair winners.

UPG President Kisha Rodwell‑Green delivered a keynote address, setting an energizing tone for the day, which was followed by a crowd‑pleasing performance from Grand Hank, The Master Scientist.

Students then participated in three small‑group sessions with their choice of 25 STEM career professionals representing fields such as research, medicine, nursing, IT, finance, cosmetic chemistry, skilled trades, aviation, software development, and multiple engineering disciplines.  This amazing group of speakers brought between five and 45 years of experience, and several offered hands-on demonstrations that made STEM concepts come alive.

The event concluded with an informative college panel discussion featuring Alain Sto Domingo (Temple University ’25) and Jordan Harris (CHS ’23), who shared candid insights about studying STEM in college, and offered practical advice for preparing for STEM majors.

Finally, Dr. Chad Womak, CHS alum and Executive Director of the iRISE Center at UNCF, delivered a powerful closing message on the importance of math mastery in an increasingly complex world, even sharing a personal story from his time at CHS.

The 2026 STEM Career Fair showcased the strength of UPG's and CSD's community partnerships and their commitment to expanding STEM pathways for all students. It was a day filled with curiosity, representation, and inspiration — exactly the kind of experience that helps young people imagine what’s possible.

What started as a friendly neighborhood non-school-related project has blossomed into so much more. Play Club, inaugurated in response to the most recent presidential election, and composed of Wyncote and Cedarbrook East students, formed when these students started asking, “What can we do?” to help the region’s immigrant population. Plenty, it turns out. 

Most recently, members of the group spoke at the Welcoming Center’s Solas Gala at the Franklin Institute. With club members standing behind them, a few members of the Play Club spoke about the group and the work it’s done to raise awareness and funds (including raising over $1,000) for the Welcoming Center’s work, which is to open doors of economic opportunity for immigrants of all education and skill levels and build immigrants’ individual and collective agency to address barriers to integration and well-being.

“We felt the need to rise up to help people affected by the harsh words being said about immigrants,” a member said. 

“If we’re all here from immigrants, then why is society mistreating and shunning them?” a member asked. 

Play Club has launched the campaigns “Fight for U.S.” and “Subscribe to Equity.” As part of these projects, Play Cub wrote speeches, sang songs, made “Bravery” buttons and created a flag from Post-It Notes with their pledges to the U.S. This past September, the Welcoming Center invited the students for a visit to learn about the center, its activities and what was doing to help the immigrant population. The students also started going to protests and being more vocal about immigrant rights. They even spoke at a township commissioners’ meeting about Cheltenham’s welcoming policy, and encouraged the commissioners to pass the policy, which they did.
 
In October, the group staged the musical “The Wiz” at the Elkins Park home of the Saavedra family because the play “is about a diverse group of people coming together to reach a common goal,” Abram said in his remarks at the gala. The group recently held its winter showcase, comprising skits and speeches about being welcoming. Each piece was connected to supporting immigrants.

Can’t wait to see what this group of Cheltenham students has planned next!

The Cheltenham School District, in partnership with the Cheltenham United Parents Group (UPG), is hosting a districtwide STEM Career Fair for students in grades six through 12 on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Featuring a vendor fair and numerous guest speakers, the fair is designed to expand access to high-quality STEM learning. The event will introduce middle and high school students to real world careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. As many as 150 middle and high school students will participate, gaining exposure to STEM professionals, hands-on demonstrations, and guidance on academic and career pathways. The STEM Career Fair aims to strengthen college and career readiness, increase representation in STEM fields, and build the knowledge and networks needed to successfully pursue future opportunities.

The STEM Career Fair reflects UPG’s mission to empower families, advocate for equitable access, and help Cheltenham students thrive, while directly supporting CSD’s Strategic Plan priorities for student achievement and engagement, equity and access, community partnerships, and future-ready learning. By bringing students, families, educators, and industry partners together, the event reinforces a shared commitment to expanding opportunity and preparing students for success in a rapidly evolving world.

Learn more at cheltenhamstemfair.com.