STEM Council Programming Extended Thanks to Private Investments

Statewide demand for STEM Council programming reached record levels and STEM partners delivered with additional support to further reach to and impact on youth in Iowa.
Statewide demand for STEM Council programming reached record levels and STEM partners delivered with additional support to further reach to and impact on youth in Iowa.

The 2022-2023 year has proven to be one of outstanding demand and need for the Iowa STEM Council’s programming and resources to educators and students across Iowa. Even with the generous bi-partisan legislative support provided for this fiscal year, the demand for ALL of our STEM educational programs has far exceeded the resources available. Private investors and corporate donors have invested in the STEM Council to help close the gap between supply and demand.

In the fall of 2022, a record number of STEM BEST® + HD program applications were completed, with 37 funded, thanks to a $700,000 grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority to augment a legislative budget line. An additional $320,000 was contributed by numerous private charitable gifts from Iowa-based companies to expand the STEM BEST® Program partnership total to 155 since 2014.

Additionally, the Iowa STEM Teacher Award, sponsored by Kemin Industries, recognized six trailblazing educators from a pool of 127 nominees, making it one of the highest total nomination pools in nine years.

The STEM Scale-Up Program this year set records for number of applications received, teachers to benefit, students to be impacted and yes, dollars needed. Additional funding from grants and private investors allowed the STEM Council to stretch resources and deliver more kits, software, lab activities and educator training to more schools and classrooms than ever. 

The STEM Council is fortunate to have generous support from public and private partners to closer meet the demand for STEM programming in Iowa. Through these partnerships, we are able to inspire even more of Iowa’s future innovators.

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