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NCRF’s 13th annual Students Think S.T.E.A.M. Expo & E-Sports is scheduled for Friday, October 9, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, 400 West Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90015. The National College Resources Foundation (NCRF) describes it as a free, in-person event for elementary, middle and high school students, youth groups and families. The details come from NCRF’s October 8, 2026 announcement, distributed through EIN Presswire. That announcement was issued the day before the event and does not publish a registration page or session schedule, so confirm that the expo is running as described before you travel.
Who the expo is for
NCRF names three audiences: students in elementary, middle and high school, youth groups, and families. The announcement frames the event as a field trip for students, with industry experts, exhibits and seminars. Families and youth groups are listed as audiences, but the announcement does not say what age range or grade level any particular activity requires.
What visitors can expect
The announcement lists three kinds of activity. It does not provide an exhibitor roster or a session-by-session timetable, so the specifics below are the categories NCRF uses, not a confirmed program.
Interactive exhibits
NCRF says the expo includes interactive exhibits. The announcement does not name the exhibitors or say which organizations will staff them.
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Hands-on activities
The release describes hands-on activities as part of the visit. It does not confirm that every subject on its list will have a hands-on station.
Seminars with industry experts
Seminars are promised alongside the exhibits. NCRF does not list speakers, session titles or times.
Rank #2
- 6 IN 1 STEM KITS: These science experiments contain a reptile robot, a balance car, a bubble machine, a fiber lamp and a buzzer wire game kit. Kids will be proud of building their own robot. REQUIRES (NOT INCLUDED): BUBBLE SOLUTION, AA BATTERIES
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- LEARN BY PLAYING: Encourage your kids to build their own robots and enjoy DIY science activities. By playing with these electric robots, children's curiosity and interest in physics will be stimulated, and they'll know how much fun it is to create a circuit by themselves
- EASY TO ASSEMBLE: All components of the STEM kits are made with odorless and safety materials. Mini screwdriver and detailed step-by-step instruction manuals make it easier and more convenient to assemble the model
Subject areas
NCRF lists science, technology, engineering, arts, agriculture, aviation, aerospace, artificial intelligence, mathematics, gaming and esports. The event title foregrounds aviation, robotics and esports, but the announcement presents these as subject areas rather than confirmed booths.
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NCRF says its mobile STEAM classroom uses computers, a 3D printer and interactive learning tools. That description covers NCRF’s broader program. The announcement does not say whether this equipment will be on site at the Los Angeles Trade Technical College expo, so do not assume visitors will get access to it.
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- ✨STEM Educational Toys: The robot set for kids ages 8+ combines the fun of STEM learning. It encourages hands-on learning and early programming as they build, which can spark creativity and imagination and provide hours of screen-free play
- 📱Flexible Dual Control Modes: Control the Robotic kit with the intuitive app (Bluetooth) or remote. Enjoy fun features like basic programming, path, and precise movement, exploring endless interactive play
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- 🛠️Clear & Detailed Build Instructions: This robot kit includes 488 pieces, with clear, colorful step-by-step instructions to make assembly easy. Kids can build their own robots independently or with family, enjoying quality time together and a confidence-boosting building experience
Career figures reported in the announcement
The announcement uses California labor-market data to connect the expo’s subjects to jobs. NCRF does not name or link the underlying projections or wage dataset, so treat these as figures NCRF reports rather than independently verified numbers.
| Role (as named in the announcement) | Figure reported by NCRF | Education route stated |
|---|---|---|
| Aerospace engineering, Los Angeles County | 3,250 job openings, from California labor-market projections for 2022–2032 | Not stated |
| Regional aerospace engineers | Nearly $80 per hour, from California labor-market information, first quarter 2026 | Not stated |
| Aerospace engineering and operations technicians | More than $46 per hour, from California labor-market information, first quarter 2026 | Typically an associate degree, according to the announcement |
The announcement gives no openings figure for technician roles. The associate-degree point is the announcement’s own general description of technician roles and is not a universal credential requirement for every employer.
Rank #4
- 🎁 Ideal Gift for Kids & Teens: This STEM solar robot kit celebrates child’s growing skills and important milestones. Whether for birthdays, holidays, it’s the perfect gift that grows with them and offers screen-free fun
- 📚 STEM Educational Toy: This solar educational toy brings science to life! The fun DIY building experience sparks children's curiosity in engineering and renewable energy, while nurturing their problem-solving skills
- ☀️ Powered by the Sun: Enjoy outdoor play with solar power or switch to a strong artificial light source indoors, such as a flashlight, ensuring uninterrupted play for children. This solar build bot toy encourages kids to have fun while exploring renewable energy
- ⚡ Upgraded Larger Solar Panel: Features a large sun-catching surface to harvest more sunlight and deliver stronger power output. Kids discover renewable energy principles through play - a fun educational toy for ages 8+
- 🤖 12-in-1 Buildable with Increasing Challenge: With 190 parts, kids can build 12 models like robots, cars, and more. From simple beginners to advanced builds, the varying difficulty levels allow it to grow with your child’s skills. Each robot sparks children’s creativity
The founder’s message
Dr. Theresa Price, founder and CEO of National College Resources Foundation, frames the expo around exposure. In the announcement she says: “Students can’t truly dream about careers they have never had the opportunity to see, touch or experience.” The release also quotes her: “Students Think S.T.E.A.M. is about igniting curiosity.” She says the program aims to help young people picture themselves designing aircraft, building robots, creating AI, developing video games, or combining art and technology.
About National College Resources Foundation
NCRF describes itself as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational enhancement organization. Its stated mission is to help curtail high school dropout rates and increase degree or certificate enrollment among underserved, at-risk, low-resource, homeless and foster students. According to the announcement, NCRF runs several programs, including college expos, STEAM, internships and careers, and student athletics.
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- Learn how pneumatic and hydraulic systems are used in industrial robots such as automobile components..2021 The Toy Association's STEAM Toy Of The Year Winner
The announcement also makes reach claims: that NCRF was founded in 1999, serves more than 200,000 students a year, has helped more than 800,000 students access higher education, and has facilitated more than $5 billion in scholarships and grants. These are NCRF’s own figures. The announcement does not provide independent corroboration.
Scholarship sponsors and partners
The announcement names nine sponsors and partners connected to scholarship opportunities for the program:
- America’s Navy
- U.S. Army
- Foundation Clothing
- Los Angeles Community College District
- Carollo Cares
- Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
- SoCalGas
- Southern California Edison
- Columbia College of Chicago
The announcement ties these partners to scholarship support. It does not describe what each one contributes or how students qualify.
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The announcement leaves several practical questions open. Each of the following is not stated in the release:
- A ticketing or registration link, or whether pre-registration is required
- An exhibitor list or session schedule
- Age or grade restrictions for specific activities
- Parking, public transit or drop-off arrangements at the venue
- Accessibility arrangements
- Confirmation that every listed subject will have a hands-on component
Before you go
- Call NCRF’s general number listed in the announcement, 877-427-4100, and confirm that the October 9, 2026 expo is still running at Los Angeles Trade Technical College.
- Ask whether registration or advance sign-up is needed for groups, youth organizations and families.
- Ask for the current exhibitor list and seminar schedule, and whether hands-on stations are available for the subjects you care about.
- Ask about parking, transit and accessibility at 400 West Washington Boulevard before arriving with a group.
For more on the event itself, the original announcement is available on EIN Presswire.
Quick Recap
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