Boeing, Seahawks and Partnership for Learning honor 50 students at STEM Signing Day

Boeing, in partnership with the Seattle Seahawks and Partnership for Learning, hosted Washington State STEM Signing Day on June 5 at the Seahawks Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton. The event celebrates Washington students who are pursuing degrees or credentials in science, technology, engineering and math.

Just like college signing days for athletes, the next STEM leaders signed a letter of intent to pursue a two- or four-year credential in a STEM field.

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu joined the celebration and encouraged honorees to set clear goals and visualize success. “Goal setting is very important…visualization is very important — visualize it. Have it on the board in the morning. As soon as you wake up, it’s the first thing you see, right before you go to bed. Do anything you can to envision yourself being in that position,” he said.

Driving the news

Educators, business leaders and elected officials joined the celebration to recognize the next generation of talent.

• Kim Pastega, vice president of Manufacturing and Safety, Boeing Commercial Airplanes: “Being selected as a STEM Signing Day honoree says a lot about who you are, what you’ve accomplished, and the potential others already see in you.”
• Gina Breukelman, senior manager, Northwest Region, Boeing Global Engagement: “These students are pursuing opportunities that will shape both their futures and the future of our state. Their curiosity, persistence and commitment to learning reflect exactly what our state needs.”

How it works

Selected students applied and were invited to attend the ceremony, sign their commitment, receive STEM Signing Day swag and a gift card for books and supplies, and meet education and industry representatives.

The event mirrors athletic signing days and is designed to help build the talent pipeline employers need. STEM employment nationally is projected to grow 8.1% from 2024 to 2034.

Beyond the ceremony

Students’ commitments at STEM Signing Day are more than symbolic: they mark a step toward the skills and credentials local employers and communities need. Boeing and its partners emphasize not just aspiration but concrete supports — mentorships, internships and local training — that help translate students’ plans into careers.

“Celebrating these commitments isn’t just a ceremony — it’s an investment in Washington’s future workforce,” Breukelman adds. “When students have clear pathways into STEM, our communities, employers and economy all benefit.”

Organizers said the event is about more than recognition — it is also about creating pathways through college credits, apprenticeships, mentorships and hands-on learning that can turn commitments into careers.

For many of the honorees, a small moment of curiosity — taking apart a toy, a field trip, a volunteer trip — has set a trajectory toward careers that could shape the region’s economy and address global challenges. STEM Signing Day is a public milestone for those paths, and a reminder that building tomorrow’s workforce starts with supporting students today.