MOUNT OLIVE – The University of Mount Olive campus came recently alive as nearly 900 third graders from Wayne and Duplin Counties spilled onto the campus green for an unforgettable day of hands-on discovery at the 8th Annual STEM on the Green.  

Students experienced science with all of their senses. They got close enough to reptiles to feel cool, scaly skin. They heard the hum of tiny robots racing down homemade tracks. They watched Monarch butterflies flutter through the air in simulation games, and many felt the unexpected joy of seeing a rocket launch. Bursts of laughter, gasps of surprise, and shouts of excitement filled the air as students moved from booth to booth with wide-eyed wonder.

The event welcomed students from nine schools. Five came from Wayne County including Carver, Fremont, Tommy’s Road, Northwest, and Rosewood. Four came from Duplin County including North Duplin, Warsaw, Kenansville, and BF Grady.

More than 36 stations spread across the lawn invited students to touch, test, build, investigate, and imagine. New activities made a strong debut and quickly became crowd favorites. These included the Monarch Migration Game, Reptile-palooza, the UMO STEM Derby, and What’s Buggin You. The UMO Flight School added an expanded aviation area where students tried on pilot gear and learned how planes lift into the sky. WNCT’s weather van brought clouds and storms to life, and new robotics and engineering challenges encouraged teamwork and experimentation.

UMO faculty, staff, and student volunteers worked alongside an impressive lineup of community partners. Mount Olive Pickle Company shared food science demonstrations, Steele Memorial Library brought literacy into the STEM mix, the Wake Tech Bio Club introduced hands-on biology, and the Mount Olive Volunteer Fire Department provided an up-close look at emergency response tools. 

Dr. Sara Lahman, Professor of Biology and STEM Outreach Coordinator, reflected on the success of the day. “STEM on the Green has grown into a celebration of curiosity, creativity, and community. What began as a bold initiative to bring science to life for local students has become one of our most impactful annual traditions, where learning leaps off the page and into real life. Each year, hundreds of students light up as they do science, discovering the excitement of hands-on exploration. With the support of our incredible volunteers and sponsors, this event continues to expand its reach, bringing new technology, ideas, and opportunities that inspire the next generation of innovators.”