The Marathon After School program, hosted by the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) in collaboration with Marathon Petroleum, helps youth interested in STEM careers find friendship and community centered on their passions. The program, which serves high school students, focuses on college and career readiness in STEM. Designed to support the educational success of Native students in STEM fields, it offers AISES-curated programming that helps students explore different STEM fields, prepare for science fairs, and apply to colleges for STEM degree programs. As part of engaging students in college and career readiness, the program leverages college students as near-peer mentors. For instance, college students pursuing STEM degrees are invited as guest speakers, having honest conversations and offering their perspective and advice on what prospective students can anticipate in college and the degree program.
“Our college students share a lot of insight, and I hope [the high school students] really take what they’ve been taught to heart,” Dr. Johnny Poolaw, Director of Student Success, said, adding that the shared experiences are an invaluable ingredient to the programming. The program also encourages and supports students to participate in the National American Indian Science and Engineering Fair (NAISEF). NAISEF is the only national science fair centered around acknowledging and supporting Indigenous students interested in science and engineering. Students compete for the chance to attend the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, where they compete against students from more than 70 countries. As part of the afterschool program, student expenses are paid for in order to decrease any barriers to participation in the science fair. Hazel Joy Bayola, an advisor at one of the schools, said of the afterschool program, “I have seen a big improvement in my students who joined the AISES program and NAISEF this year. I know this will help a lot of students in the future.” Currently, 5 schools from across the country participate in the program: 2 in Oklahoma, 2 in New Mexico, and 1 in Arizona on the Navajo Nation. As STEM workforce development initiatives continue to be prioritized at the national level, this program will likely expand in the coming years to provide even more STEM opportunities for Native youth.
AISES is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing Indigenous representation in STEM education and careers. They offer a variety of programs and resources for students at different educational levels. You can learn more about their 2025 program priorities on their website.