Lawton's Next Generation Takes Flight: STEM Meets the Sky

When you picture a STEM career, you might imagine someone hunched over a computer in a lab. But in Lawton, students are learning that the future of innovation happens in the sky—literally.

The Fly Forward: Tuesday Take-Off event brought together young learners eager to explore aerospace technology and drone operations, with hands-on activities designed to spark curiosity and problem-solving skills. It’s the kind of experience that doesn’t just teach kids about engineering—it lets them feel what it’s like to actually *do* it. Flying a drone, understanding flight mechanics, tackling real STEM challenges—these aren’t abstract concepts anymore. They’re tangible skills being built right here in our community.

What makes this event special is the partnership behind it. FISTA Innovation Park, the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OSU-OAIRE), and the Cameron University Engineering Club pooled their expertise to create something that clicks for students. When academic institutions and local innovation hubs work together, you get programs that are both rigorous and genuinely exciting. The goal was clear: inspire the next generation by showing them that aerospace and engineering aren’t distant, untouchable fields—they’re open doors.

This kind of grassroots STEM exposure matters more now than ever. Oklahoma has a rich aerospace heritage, and Lawton sits at the heart of that legacy. Programs like Fly Forward remind students that incredible career paths exist in their own backyard. Whether it’s drone technology, aeronautical design, or engineering innovation, the foundation starts here, with events that turn curiosity into momentum.

For students in Lawton, Tuesday’s takeoff was about more than drones. It was a reminder that the sky isn’t the limit—it’s just the beginning.