Lexington's STEAM Academy was buzzing Tuesday night as a packed house gathered to witness how students see the city's past, present, and most importantly, its future. And that means more than just blue-skying it, but also tackling challenges, such as environmental changes.
We're hitting a big wall here of keeping our earth healthy.Daniel Marin, STEAM Academy student
Student Daniel Marin was operating one of the more eye-drawing displays — a colorful model train. But when approached about his booth, the first words out of his mouth were cautionary.
"We're hitting a big wall here of keeping our earth healthy," he says.
His area of interest? The prospect of a less energy-hungry mode of transportation.
"We wanted to do more of a magnetic train. You use magnetics along the track to power the train all the way through," he explains. "It's not going to use a ton of energy, very minimal, maybe just for lighting inside the train. I think it's a smart idea."
But Marin is far from oblivious to the real-world trade-offs.
"The only downfall would be cost, but that's what you have to pay to keep this earth how it was. That's what you've got to do."
Curious what Lexington’s students think about the city’s future? Here are some scenes from the #STEAM Academy’s “Conversations with Tomorrow’s Leaders.”
— Josh James ☯️ (@joshjameswuky.bsky.social) 2025-12-09T22:59:19.923Z
Thinking green was just one of the many themes that emerged, according to STEAM Principal Christopher Flores.
"This was really driven by our teachers and students, and so we're just really excited to have our kids show what they've done all semester," he said.
And what they've done is delve into areas as diverse as local geology, the way Lexington's history is memorialized, and the impact of music in their hometown.
The event culminated with a town hall-style discussion based on the sights, sounds, and ideas on display. The title: "A Conversation with Tomorrow's Leaders."