The Ripken Foundation was recently featured in Business Monthly for our national STEM initiative, which can be found here. In 2016, we launched the Ripken Foundation STEM initiative to provide underserved elementary and middle school youth in disadvantaged neighborhoods the opportunity to participate in STEM activities. To date, we have installed 625 fully operational STEM Centers in 25 states and Washington, D.C., impacting over 267,000 youth with the help of over 15,000 teachers and mentors.
"Through these STEM Centers, we aim to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and technologists," said Ripken Foundation President and CEO Steve Salem. "We're proud to collaborate with our partners to create these vital educational resources."
The Foundation sees the STEM education gap as an opportunity to apply key lessons from sports—teamwork, respect, communication, and resilience—to the classroom. Aiming to increase the number of minority and at-risk youth pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math careers, our STEM program provides interactive afterschool lessons without the pressure of grades. An emphasis on collaboration and critical thinking shapes productive adults with the integrity to initiate positive changes in their communities.
Many of the educators and faculty at the schools we impact can see real change in their students after implementing the STEM program. Pampa ISD Superintendent Hugh Piatt II was in attendance for a STEM Center opening and expressed his excitement for the new Center, stating "This STEM Center will allow our students to develop critical skills for the future in a hands-on, engaging way." Travis Elementary Principal Dr. Byron May echoed Piatt's sentiments, stating "The STEM Center opens up endless possibilities for our students. It's a space where they can turn their ideas into reality and apply what they've learned in new and exciting ways. We're excited to see how it will inspire creativity and critical thinking across all grades."
To learn more about our STEM Center initiative, click here.