INSPIRATION THROUGH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
On February 4th, 2022, the 16th Annual Science and Technology Festival will take place at Highland Park High School. Valerie Dillon and Wendy Zhao are the new Head Chairs this year and with the assistance of veteran Chairs and PTA, we're looking forward to bringing another wonderful event. A complete list of Festival Chairs can be found on our About Page. Looking forward to a wonderful festival!
On February 5th, 2021, the 15th Annual Science and Technology Festival will be held at Highland Park High School. The festival will feature accomplished leaders in STEM fields discussing their careers, education paths, and work experience with students. This year, Speaker sessions will be held virtually via live chat sessions and pre-recorded videos.
Looking forward to another great festival!
Since March of 2020, Sci-Tech Fest has been working to create, procure, and donate PPE to TX, NY, CA, and WA area first responders.
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The HPHS Science and Technology Festival was originally founded by a small group of volunteers 14 years ago. Parents with a passion for Science and Technology were motivated to bring that enthusiasm to our students. With help from other volunteers, faculty, and an amazing group of professionals willing to share their expertise with HPHS students, the first Science and Technology Festival was born.
Today, that Festival has grown to host over 50 professionals in STEM fields that include Technology, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Medicine, VR, AR, AI and more. For the first time in the Festival's history, the 2020 Sci-Tech Fest will bring the addition of Keynote Speakers. Highly accomplished professionals in the top of their field will share their knowledge and vision with students, faculty and community.
Our Mission Statement is simple. Inspire Tomorrow's Future Today!
The Sci-Tech Fest hosts accomplished Speakers for an educational and inspirational day at HPHS. Nearly 2500 students attend these sessions for an insightful and educational experience every year.
We look forward to another exciting event!
Change the world for the better with passion and enthusiasm for science and technology! Founded 14 years ago, the amazing people behind the Sci-Tech Fest are still passionate about bringing Science and Technology to students today.
In my long tenure as as science teacher at Highland Park High School, I have had the privilege of teaching highly motivated and insightful young men and young women. As I talked to these students, I learned that their scientific curiosity and skill was fostered by people in the community, including family members who had pursued similar interests to become engineers, doctors, or some type of “professional scientist”. These professionals, like Marie Naklie, formalized their experiences by developing the first Science Festival many years ago. Since that inaugural event, throughout the years, Liz Showalter, Cathy Phillies, Beth Hise, and Kim Brannon introduced new generations to the Festival while HPHS alumnus Mike O’Neill worked behind the scene to support this worthy event.
Since 2006, students and science faculty have seen presentations from accomplished engineers, doctors, computer scientists and many others. These presentations have given students an early peek into many academic areas of interest and gained explicit understanding of how they can pursue them. Sci-Tech Fest 2020 has expanded under the guidance of a new generation of professionals. Katherine Kang and Amy Shawver have incorporated the inaugural Keynote event where leaders in their fields share their insights with students and faculty.
Selfishly, I look forward to the Sci-Tech Fest every year because I get to be a student again, exposed to ideas and realities that I would never consider. This experience helps renew my academic spirit and reminds me that I have been entrusted with young minds that are motived to learn in a way that is inspiring and affirming.
-Jeff Barrows-
Keynote Speaker - John Carmack
2001 Hall of Fame
Keynote Speaker - John Carmack
2016 BAFTA Fellowship Award
Keynote Speaker - John Carmack
2019 Joe Rogan Experience
2019 CNBC interview with Palmer Luckey
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