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For a second year, the University is hosting Micron Day on campus to showcase the innovation and future of technology education and careers in Central New York.

The event on April 21 will be a full-day celebration of technology, education and opportunity, bringing students, families, educators, industry leaders and community partners together to inspire the next generation of innovators in the region.

Last year’s event focused on Micron’s transformative $100 billion investment in the community with the development of their facility in Clay, New York, and their ongoing partnerships with the University. This year, Micron Day will highlight what is possible when there is strong collaboration between higher education and industry, illustrating the shared commitment between the University and Micron to build sustainable, tech driven pathways and opportunities for young people in Central New York.

“Micron Day represents how universities and industry can work together to create real, tangible opportunity for students while strengthening the regional economic ecosystem,” says Acting Chancellor J. Michael Haynie. “By engaging students early and showing them what’s possible, we’re helping them envision a future for themselves in technology that begins right here in Central New York.”

The centerpiece of the day will be a large-scale technology fair and tech expo in the Ensley Athletic Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., where hundreds of local students in grades 9-12 will be welcomed to explore interactive, hands-on exhibits alongside University students, faculty, staff and members of the public. Exhibits in the expo will be designed to spark curiosity and demonstrate how classroom learning connects to real-world applications and future careers.

The exhibitors will include a range of University schools, colleges, clubs and programs, as well as Micron camps and activities, community partner organizations, military and emergency response partners, higher education institutions and local tech employers.

“Micron Day allows us to connect with students and families long before careers begin and show how today’s learning leads to tomorrow’s opportunities,” says Janine Rush-Byers, director of strategic university partnerships at Micron. “The partnership with ������ ensures we’re building a future workforce that reflects the talent, diversity and potential of this community.”

With exhibits ranging from immersive demonstrations to creative problem-solving activities, the expo aims to meet students where they are and invite them to actively engage with technology.

A scavenger hunt-style experience that encourages students to move through the expo and interact with exhibits while earning prizes for participation is also planned. Lunch will also be provided to the students; schools must register in advance.

“From hands-on exhibits to interaction with students and professionals in tech industries, everything about this event is designed to keep students curious, engaged and excited about learning,” says A.J. Florkowski, program operations manager with the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation and lead planner for Micron Day at the University.

After the expo, Micron Day will continue into the evening with additional programming focused on the families and caregivers of young people in the region.

From 5 to 6 p.m. in Marley Hall, an esports competition will be held in the University’s new Esports Classroom between Boise State and Syracuse. A town hall will take place afterwards, from 6 to 7 p.m., during which parents and students can learn more about the clubs, campus and programs available at both the University and elsewhere in the region. Exhibitor tables highlighting the different opportunities will be set up from 5 to 8 p.m.

With a focus on hands-on engagement, the goal of Micron Day this year is to reflect the long-term vision of the partnership between the company and University by acknowledging that today’s middle and high school students are the region’s future workforce, leaders and innovators.

“Our goal is to make Micron Day fun, interactive and inspiring—something students remember as the day they realized technology could be for them,” Florkowski says.