October 6, 2025
The tools are here. The students are ready. In Jefferson Davis County, the future begins today.
The ILLUME Mississippi program has moved from vision to action. This week, our CMI2 ILLUME team was on the ground in Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi, delivering and installing state-of-the-art engineering equipment at Jefferson Davis High School, the Jefferson Davis County School District Career Center, and Prentiss Christian School.
With the new tools in place, students immediately began engaging in hands-on experiments, exploring engineering concepts, and testing their creativity with real-world applications on state-of-the-art technology, including 3D printers, robotics kits, and electronic workbenches. In the coming weeks, a plasma table will be delivered to support the welding class at the Jefferson Davis County School District Career Center.
Learning by Doing
The CMI2 ILLUME program (Innovating, Learning, Leading, Uniting, Making, and Experimenting) is about more than just putting new technology in classrooms. It enables students to develop teamwork and problem-solving skills, directly linking classroom concepts to practical solutions. As they participate, students gain awareness of the role of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in everyday problem-solving and how these skills can unlock opportunities for their future.
A Community Effort
The key to ILLUME is action, and the program’s impact is amplified by the community. Parents, educators, and leaders celebrated as classrooms transformed into hubs of innovation. For many students, it was their first time working with advanced engineering tools. an experience that opens doors to new career pathways and helps them prepare for future careers. Jefferson Davis County is now at the center of a growing regional network of STEM opportunities, connecting industries across Lamar, Marion, Covington, Lawrence, and Simpson Counties.
Looking Forward
With equipment in place and students engaged, ILLUME Mississippi is expanding hands-on learning opportunities that empower students to pursue STEM fields. This marks the beginning of ongoing efforts to equip students in rural areas with future-ready skills, placing them on equal footing with their peers nationwide.
ILLUME is now an action, shaping tomorrow’s innovators today.
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