SPC Co-Hosts 3rd Annual Alamo STEM Youth Summit

On March 4, 2026, St. Philip’s College (SPC) welcomed middle and high school students for the 3rd Annual Alamo STEM Youth Summit, hosted in partnership with the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA).

This year’s summit comes just months after a historic milestone for the college. In December, SPC celebrated its first 14 graduates earning the Bachelor of Applied Technology Degree in Cybersecurity, a vision first imagined more than a century ago by founding President Saint Artemisia Bowden, who envisioned the college granting baccalaureate degrees.

IDRA leads the summit as part of its mission to build strong, equitable educational ecosystems and create STEM pathways for underperforming and first-generation college-going students. By connecting education, workforce and equity opportunities, IDRA helps ensure students in San Antonio can access real-world pathways to success.

The summit offered hands-on activities designed to inspire the next generation of innovators while connecting students to college and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Participants coded robots through obstacle courses, solved a cybercrime escape room, explored human anatomy on a life-size virtual anatomy table, participated in virtual reality simulations and experienced electric vehicle technology. Students also toured the campus and joined a student panel.

“Today, over 300 students from eight school districts explored STEM careers,” said Edith Orozco, Dean for Academic Success, Applied Science & Technology at St. Philip’s College. “I am truly honored to partner with IDRA to host such a meaningful event.”

Participating school districts included East Central ISD, Edgewood ISD, Fort Sam Houston ISD, Harlandale ISD, Judson ISD, Northeast ISD, Randolph Field ISD and San Antonio ISD.

“Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing and most critical fields of our time,” said Randall Dawson, Vice President for Academic Success at St. Philip’s College. “Now, more than ever, preparing students for future STEM college and career opportunities is a shared priority across our community.”