CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council hosted STEM Day at the Capitol, with nearly 200 Iowans showcasing their contributions to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). The event was held Wednesday, February 13, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Capitol Rotunda.
STEM Day at the Capitol showcased 32 in-school and out-of-school displays highlighting the state’s assets in STEM, ranging from non-profits to Hub Institutions, from the STEM Scale-Up Program partners to the STEM BEST® Network and from K-12 to business and industry leaders.
Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg was joined by U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director Andrei Iancu, Senator Chris Cournoyer, Senator Bill Dotzler, Representative Cecil Dolecheck, Representative Dave Jacoby, Accumold President and CEO Roger Hargens and Kemin Industries Vice President and General Counsel Libby Nelson to highlight the importance of STEM education and its progress in Iowa.
The program included recognition of the 2019 I.O.W.A. STEM Teacher Award recipients, including:
- Matthew Eddy, agricultural teacher and CASE curriculum leader at Southeast Polk High School
- Ann Gritzner, science teacher and project based learning teacher leader at Central Community High School
- Jacob Hunter, agricultural science teacher at North Scott High School
- Sharon Jaeschke, math teacher and robotics coach at Southeast Valley High School
- JoAnne Sackett, Explore Lab teacher at Okoboji Elementary School
- Lacy West, 7th and 8th grade science teacher at Missouri Valley Middle School
Legislators visited with exhibitors, including students and leaders from higher education, K-12, non-profits, business and industry and more to learn how they are shaping tomorrow’s STEM leaders and building STEM-literate, workforce-ready citizens for Iowa. Collins Aerospace and Vermeer Corporation sponsored the event.
Following STEM Day at the Capitol, Kemin Industries hosted a reception to honor all past recipients and this year’s winners of the I.O.W.A. STEM Teacher Award, and to celebrate the 5th year of the award. The educators had the opportunity to network over refreshments, tour the Kemin worldwide headquarters and engage with Kemin scientists.
— Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council
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