Symbolic of Iowa's broad-spectrum commitment to STEM education, record-setting attendance at the fourth annual Iowa STEM Summit drew in STEM leaders from eight states, including 13 percent business and economic development, 10 percent public universities, 33 percent preK-12 education, 12 percent private and community colleges, 15 percent nonprofits and informals, 8 percent extension and AEAs, 8 percent state and local government, plus a valued handful of unaffiliated advocates.

The transformation of STEM education was on full display, highlighting the progress of the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council's four STEM-focused classrooms and best practices of the recipients of the STEM Education Award for Inspired Teaching, sponsored by Kemin Industries.

The future of Iowa's STEM education came into focus through provocative sessions, panels and speakers. As a result, the STEM Council is zeroing in on answers to major challenges, including the place for computer science, STEM support of the arts, leverage of counselors, diversity of the STEM talent pipeline, connecting business and school, engagement of higher education, maximizing the out-of-school learning zone, recognition of excellence and building STEM awareness.

Opening keynote Kwizera Imani, former Tanzanian refugee and now a senior enrolled in five advanced placement courses at Des Moines North High School, will attend Iowa State University for Aerospace Engineering and encapsulated the day's big message, "The best way to influence students is to grab their attention at a young age. If we involve them at a young age, they will become confident and proud, and the number of students interested in STEM careers will grow," Imani said.

Thank you to all who took part in the 2015 Iowa STEM Summit. For those who could not make it, all materials will be archived by early next week at www.iowastem.gov.  

The STEM Council recently added a new recognition system to the Iowa STEM toolbox, referred to as the STEM Council's Seal of Approval, which recognizes the great STEM happening organically across Iowa.

Programs and events that align with STEM Council goals, such as community hack-a-thons, conferences, afterschool programs, citizen engagement, showcase events and more may apply for the Seal of Approval. Its dual function is to recognize and help elevate quality STEM outside of the STEM Council purview and expand opportunities for Iowans to identify and participate in great STEM by connecting to the STEM Council.

Five applicants worked through a beta-version of the application with a committee of the STEM Council. Eventually, all five earned designation as the first recipients of the Seal of Approval and were announced at the Iowa STEM Summit on March 30, including:

• STEM Family Free Night at The Iowa Children's Museum;

• Exploring Iowa Archaeology program of the University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist;

• Lewis Central Middle School's eighth grade STEM program;

• Math Counts and Science Rocks at the Vermeer Yellow Iron Academy;

• And, the Nature STEM Camp program, a joint venture of Sibley-Ocheyedan School District, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Osceola County and City of Sibley Recreation Department.

Each program or event that applies is unaffiliated with existing STEM Council programs and will be considered based on the program's alignment to STEM Council goals, the needs of the community and its benefits and offerings to meet those needs. The Seal of Approval can be leveraged for promotion, external funding and other types of support.

For more information on the STEM Council's Seal of Approval or to apply, visit www.iowastem.gov/seal.