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CONNECTING & COLLABORATING

Strategies for inspiring + engaging


On April 22-23, the Kansas Enrichment Network presents a virtual summit experience for community leaders and afterschool professionals looking to expand their knowledge and focus on the future engagement of girls and others underrepresented in STEM/STEAM programs. 

This free conference is presented in partnership with Lawrence Arts CenterKC STEM Alliance and Million Girls Moonshot, an initiative to inspire and prepare the next generation of innovators by engaging one million more girls in STEM learning opportunities through afterschool and summer programs over the next five years.

Learn about generating art from algorithms from digital artist and cultural critic Nettrice Gaskins, discover how to "Up Your Creative Genius" with Patti Dobrowolski, gain insights from NASA engineer Alicia Dwyer Cianciolo, examine the gender gap in STEM with KC STEM Alliance's Marian McClellan and more!

Register here >

 


Remake Learning Days-Kansas City // May 1-10


We're celebrating the future of learning in our region May 1-10 with 60+ hands-on learning events and activities for families to explore together during Remake Learning Days.

Created by libraries, museums, businesses, youth groups and other community organizations, these learning experiences span six themes: science, technology, maker, arts and youth voice and include several professional development sessions for educators.

Be part of the celebration: #RemakeDaysKC also will lift up state and regional celebrations and challenges, including Missouri STEM Week and Kansas City Math Week.
 

Young woman working in laboratory

Missouri STEM Celebration Week // May 3-7

The Missouri Math and Science Coalition celebrates the power of STEM in Missouri through a week-long celebration showcasing some of the state's most talented students, educators, community leaders and business professionals. Organizers invite the entire STEM community to use this occasion to celebrate your own “STEM rockstars” and activities—from student science or engineering projects to career pathways to STEM-focused events.
 
How can you take part?

  • Share out via social media any projects, activities or events that showcase your STEM awesomeness using the hashtag #MoSTEMWeek. (Tag @missourichamber, too.) 
  • Join these virtual events: 
    • STEM Celebration Week Launch Event – livestreamed on Facebook @missourichamber // Monday, May 3, 11am – noon 
    • STEM Signing Day and Scholarship Event – livestreamed on Facebook @missourichamber // Friday, May 7, 11am – noon  

Join #MoSTEMWeek >
 



Kansas City Math Week

Developing a “can do” spirit around math is important, and Kansas City Math Week will show families the way during Remake Learning Days.

Organized by ST Math, Kansas City Math Week challenges the community to reach 2 million minutes of math in just one week!

ST Math’s online stories and games, available in both Spanish and English, are grounded in the world around us allowing the experience to be about math, literacy, history, and geography in a culturally relevant way. The games and stories feature several countries including Lesotho, Madagascar, Ghana, and China. During Math Week, families can use these free games as part of a nightly story time routine or fit them whenever it works.

Families will find more math fun from #RemakeDaysKC event hosts around the region, including Mathapalooza in the Park, Sum of Our Favorite Numbers by Leslie and Jay Cady and geometric string art with Make48 & Science City at Union Station.


Take the Kansas City Math Week Challenge >

STUDENT RECOGNITION
In an academic year where nothing is normal, receiving feedback from STEM professionals means more than ever for students working their way through capstone projects, science fair experiments and other STEM competitions. Here are a few opportunities to lift them up by leaving a note or tuning into an awards ceremony to cheer their successes!
 
 

Greater Kansas City Science & Engineering Fair

It’s the 70th edition of the Greater Kansas City Science & Engineering Fair! Competition wrapped up earlier this month, but you can still view student projects and leave comments and encouragement.

Visit the virtual fair site to go on a scavenger hunt and view the projects, then tune in to watch the awards ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 17, via Facebook Live on the Science City Facebook page.

Visit the virtual fair >
 



Kansas City Invention Convention

Join the Linda Hall Library in congratulating young inventors from the inaugural Kansas City Invention Convention during a virtual ceremony on April 29. Prizes will be awarded in grade categories along with a Best-of-Show winner. Five Kansas City-area inventors will also be invited to compete in the National Invention Convention sponsored by The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan.

Register here >
 



NCWiT Aspirations in Computing Awards

Each year, U.S. high school students in grades 9 through 12 who self-identify as women, genderqueer or non-binary are eligible to receive recognition for their aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, as demonstrated by their computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, tenacity in the face of barriers to access, and plans for post-secondary education. 

Congratulations to these students who received the Western Missouri/Kansas Award:

  • Aliya Allen, Ruskin High School, Kansas City, MO
  • Lindsey Chiu, Shawnee Mission South High School, Overland Park, KS
  • Bethany Danley, Lee’s Summit West High School, Lee’s Summit, MO
  • Katie Dustin, Lee's Summit High School, Lee’s Summit, MO
  • Sarai Hunley, Grandview Senior High School, Grandview, MO
  • Hannah Poe, Shawnee Mission South High School, Overland Park, KS
  • Bailey Reich, Grain Valley High School, Grain Valley, MO
  • Candy Sarres, North Kansas City High School, North Kansas City, MO
  • Carlie Scheer, Olathe Northwest High School, Olathe, KS
  • Alana Schmalzreid-Lugo, Olathe Northwest High School, Olathe, KS
  • Zoey Sears, Lee’s Summit High School, Lee’s Summit, MO
  • Akasha Snow, Staley High School, Kansas City, MO
  • Elaina Young, Holden High School, Holden, MO

A special shout out to Candy Sarres of North Kansas City, who also received a National Honorable Mention award! Recipients will be honored during a virtual awards ceremony on April 17. Congratulations to all!
 



Project Lead The Way Virtual Senior Showcase

KC STEM Alliance will recognize senior capstone students enrolled in Project Lead The Way’s Engineering Design & Development and Biomedical Innovation courses and award $25,000 in scholarships and prizes during a livestream ceremony at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 5.

Tune in to see who receives special honors and scholarship awards in the following categories: 

  • Engineering & Product Design Online Competitions
  • Biomedical Research Online Competitions
  • Innovator Awards presented by STARTLAND & KC STEM Alliance and sponsored by Commerce Bank
  • Sustainability Challenge sponsored by Climate Action-KC & Johnson Controls
  • COVID-19 Challenge sponsored by Black & Veatch
  • Clean Water Challenge sponsored by Burns & McDonnell
  • Make It REAL Scholarships

The ceremony will be livestreamed on the KC STEM Alliance Facebook page. When the competition is complete, you can view student projects here.

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE

Step Right Up! for STEM fun & career exploration!

Step Right Up!—the sixth exhibit from the Burns & McDonnell Battle of the Brains program at Science City—is now open.  The exhibit, created by students from Tonganoxie Middle School, explores STEM concepts through classic carnival games: The difference between winning and losing is in understanding probability, statistics, the laws of physics and your body’s natural ability to connect sight and movements. 

Designed to help guests overcome the games’ deception and learn to win, Step Right Up! contains 11 features, including Kinetic Collisions, Roller Bowler, Trick Shot and Bottle Balance, to name a few. Make plans for a STEM outing the whole family will enjoy! 

Learn more about Battle of the Brains >


Countdown to Summer


Looking for camp experiences and ways to include STEM/STEAM exploration into your family's summer plans? Check out this roundup of STEM-related camps in our region and visit the STEM Connect-KC calendar to search opportunities by date.

Explore now >
 

Add your camp information to STEM Connect-KC


Is your organization offering STEM or STEAM camps or programming this summer? Add your information to STEM Connect-KC to help more parents and caregivers find your offerings. You can add camp dates to the calendar here or contact us for more information about how to upload your information. The updated summer camp roundup page will be published in mid-March.

p.s. There's no charge to be included! The goal is to make it easier for parents and caregivers to find opportunities. 
Find activities for all ages at STEM Connect-KC
DIVERSITY IN STEM

Closing the Racial Gap in STEM Webinar Series

Save the date: At 11:30 a.m. May 19, the KC STEM Alliance kicks off a new series of lunch-hour conversations about how to address the racial gap in STEM education. Moderated by the Kansas City Public Library's Andrea Ellis, the series of panel discussions takes place via Zoom at 11:30 a.m. every Wednesday through June 16.  Watch your email for an invitation and more details.

FIRST ROBOTICS

FIRST experiences a game-changing season

Teams across the spectrum of FIRST programs are building future-ready skills as they adapt to competing in new formats, presenting online and adding problem-solving skills to their tool sets. You can tune into the FIRST Tech Challenge Missouri/Kansas Championship Awards Ceremony at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 25, and to the FIRST Robotics Competition Awards Show at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 13. 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

We love libraries, robotics, volunteers and more!

April brings National Robotics Week, National Volunteer Month, National Library Week, National Citizen Science Month and Afterschool Appreciation Week—a pretty good list of things we love in a STEM learning ecosystem! In the spirit of appreciation, we share these highlights:



This profile of a KC-area FIRST alum celebrates both the power of robotics as way to learn STEM skills and the importance of volunteers in making the program a meaningful experience.



This video posted by U.S. Engineering and organized by KC STEM Alliance shows how volunteer mentors are finding new ways to connect with students when they're not able to meet face-to-face. Three cheers to all of the volunteers who have signed up to connect in new ways through this program and others like The Connector administered by PREP-KC.
 



... and a little library love!

A small sampling of STEM opportunities from our local library systems:

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KC STEM Alliance · 4825 Troost Ave. · Kansas City, MO 64110 · USA