In This Issue - May 2024

Meet the 2024 Scholarship Winners

Read STEM Forward May Blog

Engineering Machine Design Contest

Contrapt WI Middle School Competition

sySTEMnow Conference RFP

2024-25 Future City Registration

NMDSI Presents: Coming of Age Amid AI

HS Science Teachers Summer Session

Urban Ecology School's Out Series

K-12 Summer STEM Camp Info

Microsoft TEALS Program

Save the Date Scholarship Golf Outing

Subscribe to the STEM Forward Newsletter

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2024 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

2024 Elizabeth Brauer Scholarship Winner

Julia Burant

Graduating from Golda Meir High School

Plans to study Electrical Engineering at Virginia Tech University in the fall of 2024

2024 SE Wisconsin Scholarship Winner

Tess Roubik

Graduating from Waukesha West High School

Plans to study Biomedical Science on the Pre-Med track at Marquette University in the fall of 2024

2024 Robert Brauer Scholarship Winner

Tim Schmit

Marquette University

Majoring in Environmental Engineering

2024 Scholarship Winner

Alham Alipuly

Milwaukee Area Technical College

Majoring in Food Science Technology and Chemical Technician studies

2024 Scholarship Winner

Ryder Collupy

Milwaukee School of Engineering

Majoring in Electrical engineering with a focus on Embedded System Design

2024 Scholarship Winner

Charlanique Hueneke

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Majoring in Civil Engineering

READ OUR MAY BLOG: GIRLS IN STEM

GIRLS IN STEM: CHECKING IN WITH THE 2023 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Recently, Maureen Haeger connected with STEM Forward’s 2023 high school scholarship recipients to check in. After conversing with both young women, we are excited about the future STEM workforce and want to share with you how they are doing as they navigate their first year in college. These talented women have demonstrated academic excellence and found ways to foster their passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Their dedication and hard work have truly set them apart. Read the May Blog to learn more.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE EMDC CHAMPIONS

Engineering Machine Design Contest National Champions

Congratulations to all the winning teams from the EMDC National Championship held at the Rochester Community & Technical College in Rochester, MN, on April 19, 2024. The top four placing teams were from our Wisconsin Region! View pictures from the event here. If you have questions, please reach out to Theresa Wolf at twolf@stemforward.org.

CONTRAPT WISCONSIN COMPETITIONS

Contrapt Milwaukee

May 10, 2024

MSOE Kern Center

We look forward to welcoming our 2024 Contrapt Competitors to “Roll the Dice” at the event on Friday. Stop by to see the excitement between 10 AM and 1:15 PM. Learn more here.

Contrapt Waukesha - WCTC

Friday, April 26

9 AM – 1 PM

SYSTEMNOW REQUEST FOR BREAKOUT SESSIONS

sySTEMnow: Call for Speakers and Topic Proposals

We look forward to welcoming you to the 21^st annual sySTEMnow Conference at the Italian Community Center on Wednesday, October 30. As the preeminent conference focused on STEM education and the talent pipeline in our area, we need your help to curate content. Each year we seek local experts to engage our attendees with timely and relevant STEM-related topics. sySTEMnow features three rounds of 50-minute breakout sessions from education, business, and community representatives. Please complete the RFP by July 5, 2024. We will connect with all respondents in August to curate this year’s conference.

Not familiar with the sySTEMnow Conference? Since 2004, the sySTEMnow Conference has been a cornerstone of STEM-related awareness in our region:

• Creating a forum for a timely discussion of STEM issues and ideas.
• Exchanging best practices from existing STEM programs.
• Developing, promoting, and implementing education-workforce partnerships.
• Providing networking opportunities for all STEM stakeholders, including educators, business leaders, and other influential STEM advocates.

Save the Date! You can learn more about the conference on our website. You won't want to miss out on this engaging conference, so mark your calendar for October 30, 2024!

2024-25 FUTURE CITY REGISTRATION OPEN

Calling all Educators

Registration for our 2024-25 Future City Wisconsin Regional is now open. This robust program culminates with our Wisconsin Regional Competition on January 18, 2025. This year’s theme asks students to design a floating city with innovative examples of how it keeps its citizens healthy and safe. If you have questions about the Future City program and how to get started, please contact Theresa Wolf at twolf@stmforward.org.

Calling All Volunteers

Do you want to share your knowledge and mentor a group of students? We seek Future City Mentors to work with students throughout their projects. Mentors act as a sounding board for ideas, provide STEM career inspiration, and work with students throughout their creative cities. Please contact Theresa Wolf for more information at twolf@stemforward.org. All individuals with knowledge of STEM and the desire to impact students are welcome. The commitment is approximately 15 hours, plus the regional competition.

FOR HS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS - COMING OF AGE AMID AI

NMDSI Presents, "Coming of Age Amid AI: What does it mean to be a high school and college student now?"

Join the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute (NMDSI) on Monday, May 20, from 1 to 2 PM (CT) for our next virtual speaker series event, "Coming of Age Amid AI: What does it mean to be a high school and college student now?" Hear from Dr. Gabriel Velez, assistant professor and developmental psychologist at Marquette University, as he outlines key considerations and strengths-based takeaways for educators and policymakers as we try to support young people in navigating AI in their education. Learn more and register now!

HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE EDUCATORS SUMMER SESSION

Summer Science Workshop for High School Educators

Wednesday, June 26, 2024 / Wisconsin Lutheran College • Generac Hall

Schedule:

Check-in: 8:30 AM.

Session 1: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 PM (Dr. John Werner OR Dr. Allison Phillips)

Lunch: 12:00 - 1:00 PM

Session 2: 1:00 - 4:00 PM (Dr. Rob Balza)

Registration Fee: $50 per session, includes lunch.

Dr. Allison Phillips (Session 1) will introduce you to three simple and fun model systems for teaching Mendelian genetics -- Wisconsin Fast Plants, fruit flies, and maize. Using these model systems, you can teach your students various topics, including autosomal and sex-linked monohybrid crosses, dihybrid crosses, microevolution, plant breeding, animal husbandry, and the value of model systems in research.

Dr. John Werner (Session 1) will demonstrate how to make science education fun and delicious with fermented foods! Unlock the world of microbiology and biochemistry with fermented food experiments. This process harnesses beneficial bacteria and yeast metabolism to transform raw ingredients into delicious and nutritious foods. D

Dr. Rob Balza (Session 2) will demonstrate how to maintain a zebrafish colony in your classroom. Zebrafish are easy to breed, and the transparency of embryos allows students to observe the effects of the environment on their development. Workshop participants will also be shown how important principles of animal behavior, environmental science, and regenerative medicine can be demonstrated using this popular animal model system.

URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER SCHOOL'S OUT SERIES

Urban Ecology Center School's Out Series

June 11-14, 2024

Summer will be here before you know it! Browse Urban Ecology Center's after-school series: School's Out Get Out. This series offers an array of options, guaranteed to find one that piques your child's interest. This after-school club is from June 11 - 14. Sign up your children for one day, a couple, or the entire week.

LOCAL K-12 STEM SUMMER PROGRAMS AND CAMPS

Are you looking to challenge your K-12 child through a STEM Summer Camp or Program? Check out the many local options listed on our website. If you offer a K-12 STEM summer camp or program, please forward the information to Maureen Haeger at mhaeger@stemforward.org so it can be added to the list.

GET INVOLVED WITH MICROSOFT TEALS PROGRAM

The Microsoft Philanthropies TEALS (Technology Education and Learning Support) Program is working to bring high-quality computer science education to all high schools. They do this through a unique partnership of tech industry professionals and high school teachers: the industry professionals provide computer science knowledge, and the classroom teachers provide the education expertise. The TEALS Program provides a proven curriculum and support to both volunteers and schools. Their next information session is May 10, 2024, at noon.

SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER GOLF OUTING AND AUCTION

Please save the date, August 8, 2024, to join us for a fun day raising funds for local STEM scholarships! Whether you are a golfer, volunteer, or join us for the scholarship reception, we hope to see you there! Registration will be live by May 15, 2024.

Please contact Maureen Haeger at mhaeger@stemforward.org to volunteer your time or provide an item for our silent auction fundraiser. Any item is appreciated and can be bundled with other similar items. Stay up to date here.

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