FlexFactor Sparks Creativity and Career Exploration in Mississippi’s Young Minds

07/24/2024

Imagine a wearable device for athletes that monitors their vitals in real-time and alerts medical professionals in an emergency or a platform for business entrepreneurs that enables you to connect with others using a smartphone or watch. These are just some of the ideas students have come up with as part of FlexFactor, an outreach and STEM education program that introduces K-12 students to advanced manufacturing technology, entrepreneurship, and STEM career pathways.

Courtney Power, Deputy Director for Workforce Development with NextFlex, describes it as a project-based learning program where students identify a problem, conceptualize a hardware solution using flexible hybrid electronics, build a business model, and pitch their final concept to a panel of judges or experts for feedback.

“We find that by engaging with K-12 students like this, we’re not only building 21st-century skills such as teamwork, communication, and collaboration, but we’re also helping connect students to careers that may exist today or might emerge tomorrow,” Power says.

In partnership with AccelerateMS, MS-SHIPS, and the Department of Defense, FlexFactor is run by NextFlex, a Manufacturing USA Innovation Institute focused on the emerging technology of hybrid electronics. “In addition to advancing hybrid electronics to volume manufacturing and commercialization and building a sustainable U.S. ecosystem,” Power adds, “we’re also focused on building the workforce needed to integrate hybrid electronics into products and manufacture in large scale.”

East Mississippi Community College was the first to implement the FlexFactor in the Mississippi, which has since expanded to six more community colleges throughout the state: Jones College, Meridian Community College, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Pearl River Community College (PRCC), and Southwest Mississippi Community College.

Sarah Oswalt, the program manager at East Mississippi Community College, describes it as an eye-opening experience.

“I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to expose our students to local industries and the various programs we offer at East Mississippi,” she says. “It gives students a chance to step outside the classroom and work on hands-on projects relevant to their area of interest.”

One of those students is Kaniyia Edwards, a junior at West Point High School. She and her classmates brainstormed a product idea in the program’s first week: a ring with a sensor that keeps you aware of your surroundings while you’re on your cellphone—think of it as lane assistance for people.

Kamron Hunter, a junior at Hattiesburg High School, pitched an app called “Bizz Buzz” that lets you connect with other people nearby. “I was a little nervous about taking part in the program, but I was really excited about the opportunity to work with my classmates,” he says. “It’s been a lot of fun.”

Through FlexFactor, students work with industry advisors from local companies who assist in the development of their ideas and address identified problems. Michelle Courtney, the MS-SHIPS Program Coordinator at PRCC, highlights the value of community partners like Western Container and the Hatchery at the University of Southern Mississippi, which have enabled students to interact with professionals and entrepreneurs from diverse fields.

“Collaborating with these two places has been very beneficial for us and has been an asset to our FlexFactor community,” she says.

The program empowers high school students across the state with the skills and mindset to tackle real-world challenges and prepare for their future roles in the workforce.

“It’s an awesome opportunity for the students,” Oswalt concludes. “I think this is a new option for schools to incorporate into their curriculum, connecting the community with the school.”

You can learn more about NextFlex by visiting nextflex.us.

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