On the Viva Technology Student Day, students experience a hands-on day filled with competitive and educational STEM-oriented exercises presented to them throughout the day. Challenges and exercises typically call on students to design, construct, and operate physical prototypes and plans that can be associated with one of the many engineering and applied math fields.

Students work in teams led by engineering and science university students, with the expressed goals of communicating the different STEM fields. Students will also hear presentations from technology professionals. Active participation gives the students opportunities to accrue Viva Dollars and win educational prizes at the end of the day.

The Viva Technology Parent Orientation is typically held the week of the Viva Technology Student Day, and is designed to explain to parents what their children will learn from participating in the program; why encouraging interest in math and science will positively impact their children’s future; and what career opportunities lay ahead for their children in science, engineering and technology.

This session currently can be presented in both English and Spanish.

The Viva Technology Parent Night specifically seeks to provide students and parents with an academic strategy and resources for gaining admission and even paying for a University STEM education.

The Teacher Orientation will acquaint teachers with the goals and mission of the entire Viva Technology program.

Teachers will review the agenda, competitions, speakers and data  distributed on Viva Technology Day. Teachers also receive multi –media material from FASE and The Futures Channel for future classroom use, for the purpose of supplementing teachers and administrators with their Science and Math instruction at the Middle and High School levels.

The Viva Technology Awareness Session programs are designed to coincide with one academic semester or quarter.

For multiple sessions, typically 10 or more in one programming cycle, students will learn about various engineering and science majors, the universities that offer curricula and degrees in these majors, and which companies/agencies/products are associated with these STEM fields.

Hands-on challenges relating to these fields accompany these sessions as well. Over the 10-20 weeks or programming, students will interact with college students and meet engineering and science progessionals. At the end of the program will have the opportunity to win technology prizes and will receive a certificate of completion as part of a Graduation Ceremony celebrating the culmination of a comprehensive program.

Some scheduling relationships the Viva Technology Awareness Session Program can take are for afterschool, Beforeschool, or Block Schedules at given schools and even entire districts.

The Viva Technology Team has developed a 1-2 hour interactive school assembly that explores the exciting world of technology for students.

This program is designed for up to 650 students in one assembly, and typically includes giveaways and audience interaction that complements the presentation.

The Department of Defense strongly supports increasing the number of Hispanics entering engineering and science fields.  This is why for four years in a row (with 2008 slated to be the fifth) the DoD is hosting the Viva Technology Program at the HENAAC conference for over 300 local students.

The Viva Technology Conference Event takes place during the HENAAC Conference and includes over 300 students from the state and metropolitan area in which the Conference is held in a given year.

The day is comprised of hands-on design and building projects, team presentations, and awards showcasing the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

As part of a holistic introduction to technical careers, special presentations are by representatives from the United States Navy, the United States Army, and other agencies and related entities highlighting the many technical and educational opportunities both civilian and enlisted that they have to offer.  Student are also introduced to the magnificent opportunities available to them at our Nation’s five Military Academies.

Teams of students are led through their hands-on competitions by Cadets and student-leaders from university-level Units of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), who will guide them through the day’s activities. Participating students take part in the Department of Defense/ HENAAC Luncheon, during which teams of students are recognized for their outstanding performance throughout the Viva Technology Conference Event.  The high school students will also hear from Military Cadet Honorees who share their journey to their respective Military Academies, the challenges they overcame, the success they have today and their dreams for the future.