“The first Midwest STEM Conference truly showed the power of partnerships,” said Terri Foulkes, Executive Director of the Missouri Afterschool Network. “By bringing together school-day educators, afterschool professionals, higher education, and community organizations, we created something greater than the sum of its parts. This event is a clear example of what’s possible when we align around a shared vision for STEM learning and opportunity.”
Held July 23–24 at Missouri S&T in Rolla, the 2025 Midwest STEM Conference was a remarkable success—uniting educators from across the state for two days of learning, innovation, and connection.
This year’s strong turnout and expanded reach reflected a growing momentum across Missouri to strengthen STEM education in both school-day and out-of-school settings. At the heart of this growth was a powerful collaboration with the Kummer Center for STEM Education, whose partnership helped elevate the experience for all involved.
“We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with the Kummer Center for STEM Education at Missouri S&T and the opportunity to cohost this event with their outstanding team,” said Mark Cowsert, MASN Associate Director of Partnerships. “Their collaboration was key to creating an experience that truly elevated the value of STEM learning and helped connect educators across multiple sectors.”
The conference kicked off with an energizing keynote from Donnie Campbell, the real-life coach who inspired Ted Lasso, and concluded with a motivating call to action from Camsie McAdams, Director of the Institute for a STEM Ready America.
Between these inspiring bookends, educators participated in hands-on workshops packed with ideas, resources, and strategies they could bring back to their classrooms and programs. Workshops sessions were clock-hour approved and designed to foster deeper collaboration across learning environments. Attendees also explored a robust exhibit hall featuring 13 dynamic exhibitors offering cutting-edge STEM tools, materials, and curriculum support.
From the sessions to the side conversations, the Midwest STEM Conference created space to reimagine what’s possible when we invest in both people and partnerships.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped make this event possible—and to every educator who continues to champion STEM learning for Missouri’s youth. Together, we are not only strengthening the bridge between school and afterschool—we are building the future of STEM education across the state.
