OKLAHOMA CITY (SEPTEMBER 1, 2025) — The Oklahoma Engineering Foundation (OEF) announces the formal establishment of the nonprofit’s first-ever statewide Youth Ambassadors Board, the OEF YAB. The grouop will provide independent advice and recommendations to OEF staff and trustees on how to improve, enhance and grow its programs, which include MATHCOUNTS Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Engineering Fair and the Oklahoma College Engineering Scholarship.
The OEF YAB will provide a unique perspective on how OEF can build upon five decades of success. The organization will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026. According to the National Association of Nonprofit Organizations & Executives, more than 50 percent of nonprofits are destined to fail and 30 percent will close within 10 years of operation.
The OEF YAB will consist of 10 Oklahoma high school students in 9th-12th grades who are U.S. Citizens or who have student/exchange visitor visas. Members must demonstrate a keen interest in STEM.
Requirements include quarterly ZOOM meetings with a requirement to attend one in-person meeting per calendar year; volunteering at least one OEF event, which includes several MATHCOUNTS Oklahoma competitions and the annual Oklahoma Engineering Fair. Also, members must advocate and promote OEF’s programs on social media. Strong preference for students planning to major in math or engineering in college, and preference for students with social media content creation experience or proclivity.
“We can’t tackle the engineering challenges of our time including a need for 3,000 new engineers by 2028, without input from youth,” said Jennifer James McCollum, APR, Executive Director, OEF. “The OEF YAB will help ensure that the voices and perspectives of our youth are included in OEF’s decision-making.
Applications are rolling through December 2025. Visit the OEF YAB webpage for more information and to apply, https://oef.org/youth-advisory-board/.
The 2026 OEF YAB will be announced on January 2, 2026. Selected members will be invited to attend the 2026 kickoff meeting via ZOOM at 6 p.m., Sunday, January 11. Please subscribe to our blog for the latest updates.