Sixty students, four alumni panelists, six current parents who work in STEM fields, and six faculty members gathered in Founders Hall last week for a panel discussion and networking event. 

“What stood out to me the most was the way the panelists wove together personal experience, practical advice, and encouragement for students who are just beginning to imagine their futures,” said Charity Hyde, assistant director of alumni and parent relations, who organized the event, held in the evening on Friday, February 13. 

COSMOS, the STEM magazine club on campus; the Science Department, and the Alumni Office welcomed back Jeffrey Lahrmann ’04, Kurt Malec ’00, Alexandra Eyvazzadeh ’17, and Karyn Backus ’95. The panel was moderated by junior Piney Arkaleephan and sophomore Kaylee Wang. 

“Events like this are important because of how they foster curiosity in students,” Piney said. “Hearing from professionals in different fields encourages students to explore their passions more and deepens their desire to pursue their existing interests.” 

Kaylee has long had an interest in STEM, an acronym that stands collectively for the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. 

“My parents have STEM-related careers, so throughout my life I have been exposed to a lot of STEM-related topics,” Kaylee said. “What interests me the most — which some of our panelists touched on — is how STEM can influence the greater good of all people in the world. My parents often tell me stories about how certain policies or actions in STEM influence not only the research within the field but also the common person. And that concept has really stuck with me, becoming one of the main interests I have in the STEM field.”   

Jeffrey is a neurologist specializing in movement disorders. Kurt is president and owner of United Gear & Machine Company, a precision aerospace manufacturing firm in Suffield, Conn. Alexandra is an engagement manager with Trinity Life Sciences, a consulting firm that supports biotech, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies in clinical and commercial decision-making. Karyn is an epidemiologist and public health data leader at the Connecticut Department of Public Health. 

“Piney and I had started planning for this event in the middle of fall term,” Kaylee said, “so we had put in a lot of time and effort to curate an event where a diverse group of STEM interests were provided. We received positive feedback about various details of the event, so I’m really glad that not only were we able to accomplish this, but also others had an enjoyable night.” 

Charity also felt the night was a success.   

“Each panelist offered valuable nuggets of wisdom,” Charity said. “Key messages included the importance of teamwork, communication skills, being curious, and not being afraid of failure. We designed the event so every student in the room would have a meaningful moment with an alum or parent working in a STEM field. The interactions show that our school community is eager to support our students. The alumni enjoy hearing what the younger generations are doing at Loomis and what they are learning.”  

Piney said students also gained skills that will help them no matter what they do. 

“Students practice[d] networking and communication skills that are extremely applicable to their careers moving forward,” she said. “Allowing the alumni and students to connect on a personal level, speaking face-to-face, strengthened student motivation, as they realized these successful adults were also people who once stood in their exact same position. The stories of the panelists and the parents showcase the different pathways STEM can lead you. Students see how far their Loomis education can take them, building foundations for various awaiting professional opportunities.” 

For Kaylee, helping to moderate the discussion also gave her the opportunity to gain a new skill. 

“It was a really exciting experience to moderate an event,” she said. “I had recently joined the debate team at Loomis and had developed my skills as a speaker tremendously compared to when I started, so I was really excited to put my skills to use in a context outside of debate. I had a lot of fun getting to know the panelists.”