Leveraging STEM for Social Change

2017 was the biggest year yet for Washington STEM. As we look back over the past year, we have many people we need to thank. But before we extend our gratitude to them, it’s YOU we need to thank first. Without your support, Washington STEM simply wouldn’t be able to impact thousands of students across our state.

Take Mya for example. She’s a 5^th grader in Selah, Washington who participated in our Engineering Fellows Program. If it wasn’t for you, Mya wouldn’t have known about all the exciting engineering careers that she could pursue.

Your support also allowed us to work closely with our 10 statewide STEM Networks to make sure that students have access to the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship. Because of that support, 1,751 students in Washington received STEM scholarships.

With your support, we launched our Notable Women in STEM campaign. This campaign highlights amazing women across our state who are actively pursuing STEM careers. We’re sharing stories of women in STEM to help inspire middle and high school girls to pursue STEM careers.  Each girl and young women who opts into STEM is another future problem-solver, collaborator, maker, designer, or leader. You're helping to make those possibilities a reality.

Our statewide STEM Networks have continued to advance equity and opportunity in their local communities, and your support of Washington STEM has enabled them to do even more. Here are a few recent accomplishments from all corners of the state:

• The South Central STEM Network created their annual STEM Building at the Central Washington State Fair in Yakima. More than 60,000 people went through the STEM Building throughout the 10-day event.
• The Skagit STEM Network held their first “STEM Like Me!” event in November, hosting 60 middle school students who learned about career opportunities from STEM professionals. This program is modeled after the Mid-Columbia STEM Network’s program.
• The West Sound STEM Network held seven “STEM Cafes” that brought together 300+ teachers with local STEM professionals to learn new hands-on activities and connect classroom learning with careers available on the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas.

“This program is helping me be creative, be adaptable, and think outside the box. I get to meet engineers solving real world problems and bring those stories back to my high school students to show how biology is applied in the real world.” –Rebecca Arthur, Biology Teacher, Central Kitsap High School

We’ve got a big year ahead and lots of work to do, but we wanted to take this opportunity to thank you. Without your support, this work simply wouldn’t be possible.

We encourage you to renew your support to make sure that every student in Washington can tap into the opportunity that a high-quality STEM education can provide.

We’re looking forward to sharing our 2018 success stories with you.

Links:

• The Engineering Fellows Program: The Student Experience
• Washington STEM: Driving Impact Across the State