A community college in Louisiana is starting early with its recruitment tactics. How early? Kindergarten.
“It’s about total community immersion, and that starts at all levels of education.”
Sarah Barlow, Baton Rouge Community College
Thanks to a new $60,000 grant, Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC) is expanding its existing STEM mini-camps to grades K-12. The hands-on programming aims to boost early exposure, equity, and access to high-paying careers.
“Institutions have to think differently about how they’re targeting,” said Sarah Barlow, vice chancellor for workforce and student development. “It’s not just about a billboard. It’s about total community immersion, and that starts at all levels of education.”
In partnership with local schools, the school already hosted two mini-camps in the fall, totalling roughly 240 elementary students enrolled, according to Barlow.
The camps include robotics, math and science labs. Programming for middle and high school students will have a similar curriculum, “just more elevated,” Barlow said.
Funding for the program expansion comes via an initiative called EmployED. Launched late last year by the American Association of Community Colleges and General Motors, it aims to close advanced manufacturing workforce gaps. BRCC was one of 18 recipients, along with community and technical colleges in Mississippi, Virginia, South Carolina, Maryland and several other states.
The BRCC mini-camps fit with EmployED’s aim because there’s research to show that this kind of early exposure — especially when it’s fun and engaging — broadens kids’ views on potential career options.
“Students now need to be exposed to careers early on, because I think it makes a significant economic impact,” BRCC Chancellor Willie E. Smith Sr. told Technical.ly.
As part of the grant, the college is also planning a regional STEM Open House, offering credentialing bootcamps and launching a non-credit certification prep course.
Equity gaps highlight the value of early STEM exposure
Workers in the STEM sector earn more compared to the median average income, but there are disparities in who has access to these roles, and which kinds.
One recent academic analysis of the workforce in Louisiana found that people of color were consistently underrepresented among the highest-paying jobs — and overrepresented among the lowest-paying ones.
“STEM is for everyone, but also focus on the equity and access,” said Smith, the BRCC chancellor. “Make sure we get more minority populations involved in these kinds of trainings, because we know the trajectory and demand, as well as the income they can make.”
These kinds of roles contribute to statewide economic growth: STEM and medical jobs generate $135 billion for Louisiana’s economy, representing 42% of its economic output, according to an April 2025 report by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
In 2024, Louisiana ranked No. 37 out of the 50 states plus Washington DC for the total number of tech workers employed across all sectors of the economy, according to CompTIA’s State of the Tech Workforce report.
Reaching out to younger populations is one way to boost the number of people in tech careers. A survey of 2,000 young people found increased interest in STEM careers, but a lack of exposure to those career pathways can drive them away.
“You never know when you’re going to tap into something in the mind of a young person,” said BRCC Vice Chancellor Barlow, “and really help guide what it is that they’re going to do in the future.”
