UC Irvine hosting ‘signing day’ for high school grads committing to STEM careers

More than 50 students graduating from Orange County high schools who plan to study science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, career fields will be celebrated as they sign “STEM Letters of Intent” at a ceremony at UC Irvine later this month.

The inaugural event on June 29 is sponsored by Boeing and the OC STEM Initiative. The local students pursuing STEM majors at colleges and universities across the country will be chosen from a pool of applicants who register on the STEM Premier app, a site that allows students to search for scholarships, share resumes, upload school projects and learn more about careers in STEM fields. Students can also learn about internship opportunities in manufacturing, healthcare, technology and other industries.

Organizers said the event is modeled after collegiate signing day ceremonies, where high school athletes announce in front of friends, family and supporters what colleges they plan to attend.

The deadline to apply for the STEM signing day ceremony, which will be attended by elected officials and business and community leaders, is June 15.