STEAM Symposium empowers TRIO students with AI innovation and career pathways

Twenty Palm Beach State College students from the TRIO Talent Search & Upward Bound programs learned more about the future of artificial intelligence and its role in shaping career opportunities during the XFINITY Conference & Symposium held Nov. 6-9 in Orlando.

This event, organized by Comcast, Xfinity, Universal Pictures, and the Council for Opportunity in Education, focused on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and aimed to inspire and connect first-generation college-bound students with careers in STEAM.

Over 250 students from across the country participated in the transformative four-day experience.

The symposium emphasized the use of AI as more than just a tool for completing tasks. Students learned strategies to “think” critically with AI—refining their queries to enhance research, creativity, and problem-solving. Through interactive sessions and hands-on demonstrations, participants gained practical skills to leverage AI in academic and professional settings.

Networking was a cornerstone of the event. Students connected with industry leaders and secured mentorships for future projects. Many of these professionals shared their own unconventional career journeys, underscoring the importance of creating direct pipelines for students into fields such as engineering, human resources, and coding.

Whether improving mobile technology or contributing to the next blockbuster film produced by Universal Pictures, the opportunities presented were limitless.

According to TRIO Talent Search Grant Director Charmaine Hyppolite, students left the symposium with tangible action plans and a renewed sense of confidence in their future. This aligns with TRIO’s mission: to support students in their pursuit of higher education while exposing them to emerging careers, pathways, and industries of tomorrow.