Why can't we celebrate ice cream in August too? National Ice Cream Month was established in the United States in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan.  As you plan for the start of the school year, here is a creative opportunity to share with students. The Breakthrough Junior Challenge invites students ages 13–18 to create a short video (two … Continue reading STEM West New Opportunities: July 2026

*|MC:SUBJECT|* *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* Caps High, Futures Bright May arrives with caps held high, As dreams prepare themselves to fly. The halls now echo proud goodbyes, While bright new futures fill the skies.   North Carolina's high school graduation rate hit a record high of 87.7% for the 2024-25 school year, the highest in state history. North … Continue reading STEM West New Opportunities: May 2026

< History in the Making: Artemis II The 10-day mission, which saw the crew of four—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—travel farther from Earth than any humans in history. Check out all of the summer workshops and conferences from STEM West.  Betabox Robotics Kit Workshop Building Literacy AI Educators Day Six Bricks … Continue reading STEM West New Opportunities: April 2026

STEM TREK 2026 STEM West Catawba Science Center April 18, 2026 STEM Trek 2026 at Catawba Science Center drew a strong crowd of more than 300 attendees for a day focused on hands-on learning and exploration in STEM. The event was made possible by a small but dedicated team of 7 staff members, along with … Continue reading A Great Day at STEM Trek 2026

Daffodils push through the cold March ground, Right by the fence where they always are found. Bright yellow petals, open and wide, Lining the walkway we step past outside. They come back each year, no matter the weather, Standing in rows, all blooming together. We are excited to open the application process for our 2026 STEAM … Continue reading STEM West New Opportunities: March 2026

Celebrate STEM West's 10th Anniversary! A Decade of Achievements This year marks our 10th anniversary, often celebrated as the Diamond Year. Over the past ten years, STEM West has been a beacon of knowledge and creativity, fostering growth and opportunity in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. A Personal Note From The President … Continue reading STEM West: 10 Years of Building Partnerships

Winter Speaks Snow comes quiet to the Blue Ridge high, lays a quilt before the daylight dies. Rhododendron bows its head, gravel roads turn white as bread. Smoke climbs slow from a mountain's keep, mules and memories both asleep. In the hills where the people know, winter speaks in mountain snow. We are happy to … Continue reading STEM West New Opportunities: January 23, 2026

STEM West is like a snowflake — beautifully built from many connected parts. Each partnership with schools, industry, higher education, and community organizations is like a crystal that strengthens the whole structure. Just as a snowflake forms when small pieces join together, STEM West grows by uniting partners to create more STEM opportunities for students. … Continue reading STEM West: Building Partnerships December 2025

The geometry of a traditional Moravian star is based on the rhombicuboctahedron polyhedron, forming a 26-point star with 18 square-based pyramids and 8 triangular-based pyramids. The 26th point is a flat base, allowing it to be easily hung or mounted. The star was originally created as a geometry lesson, and its structure demonstrates principles of geometry and symmetry. Components of a … Continue reading STEM West New Opportunities: December 2025

Happy New Year From STEMWest! The Times Square Ball Drop blends physics, engineering, and tradition, using gravity, motors, and precise timing to control a large, illuminated sphere's descent, with math calculating its speed and energy, while the science involves electrical engineering for the lights and complex mechanics for the controlled drop. This ensures a perfectly … Continue reading STEM West New Opportunities: January 2026