Monthly News of the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council | April 2014

Students work through the project components of Microsoft IT Academy at Alburnett High School.

Microsoft IT Academy Makes Early Impacts at Alburnett High School

With today's tough job market, graduates are looking for any way to stand out. Luckily, high school and college students at sites across Iowa will be coming out ahead, in large part thanks to strong bipartisan support of Iowa's legislature in funding the STEM Council's partnership with Microsoft's IT Academy. (continued...)

STEM Council team members Meghan Reynolds and Cassara Higgins show what's in our cereal to youth at the USA Science & Engineering Festival April 25 in Washington, D.C.

Jeff Beneke (l) has succeeded James Hoelscher (r) as Iowa's STEM network Northeast Regional STEM Manager at the University of Northern Iowa hub.

Billboards like the one above have been shown in locations in six areas across Iowa this year. Help us spread the STEM message further!

Iowa STEM Contributes to National Events

America's STEM engine got turbocharged last week by two significant events held back-to-back in Washington, D.C., each featuring a strong Iowa presence. On April 23 at the third annual U.S. News STEM Solutions Conference, Iowa's

Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds joined the likes of Joan Ferrini-Mundy, an Assistant Director at the National Science Foundation; Dean Kamen, FIRST Founder; Freeman Hrabowski III, President of the University of Maryland-Baltimore and other visionaries invited to speak on concrete examples of successful STEM models ripe for replication. (continued...)

Northeast Region Transitions to New Leadership

Iowa's STEM Network is served with the leadership of six regional STEM managers spearheading the work across Iowa to ensure the Governor's STEM Advisory Council's mission and programs are implemented to their broadest audience.

One such manager who has ably taken on these roles has transitioned to another position outside of the Council. James Hoelscher has turned over the reins of the Northeast region to the capable hands of new manager Jeff Beneke as James moves to the Institute for... (continued...)

Help Further STEM Awareness in Your Region

In recent months, STEM billboards and a public service announcement featuring Pinterest owner and Des Moines native Ben Silbermann started appearing across the state to help raise awareness and interest in STEM. The billboards and air time needed to run these marketing pieces were donated by TV stations and billboard advertising companies. From January through March, nearly two million impressions occurred from the placement of the ten digital billboards across Iowa. (continued...)

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