STEM CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

NUMBER OF DONORS: 961
TOTAL DOLLARS RAISED: $6,103,384

The USNA STEM Center addresses an urgent Navy and national need for more young people to pursue careers in science and engineering, particularly in technical areas of interest to the military. Faculty and midshipmen provide outreach to local and national communities in order to facilitate the recruitment of USNA candidates with interest in STEM careers. 

These outreach programs have a lasting and transformational impact on our youth and dedicated educators, including those from underserved and underrepresented populations.

The Center supports the recruitment of USNA candidates who have an affinity towards STEM majors and who demonstrate leadership in the classroom, creative problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt. Participation in STEM events prepares current midshipmen to interface with multiple technologies, to understand the interdependence of different disciplines in military technologies and to enhance their technical communication skills. 

Thanks to the support provided by generous donors, the U.S. Naval Academy’s STEM Center for Education and Outreach continues to make an impact on the Yard and beyond. 

KEY AREAS OF STEM IMPACT:

• SUMMER STEM PROGRAM—The STEM Center and the Office of Admissions host this project-based curriculum for rising 9th, 10th and 11th graders. The week-long sessions on the Yard host students from around the country as they receive support from USNA midshipmen, faculty and staff. Midshipmen present a range of lessons, including building circuits, cyber security, 3D simulation, storm chasing, the physics of light, robotics and much more.
• GIRLS ONLY STEM DAYS—The USNA STEM Center hosts Girls Only STEM Days as part of an on-going effort to encourage young women to pursue education and careers in STEM. The event consists of hands-on workshops for middle school girls on-site at the Naval Academy.
• SET (STEM EDUCATOR TRAINING) SAIL SUMMER PROGRAM—SET Sail provides week-long training to educators from DoDEA and U.S. schools. The workshops train secondary educators to incorporate project-based learning and real-world applications while delivering STEM content.
• SUMMER HEROES YOUTH PROGRAM (SHYP)—The Summer Heroes Youth Program (SHYP) reaches underserved middle-school students in the region, including inner-city Baltimore and Washington, DC. A team of USNA midshipmen and faculty visit local schools and provide an engaging program for students to explore science and engineering through hands-on activities.

“Throughout our history, we have steadfastly committed to supporting partnerships focused on education, skill building, workforce readiness and a diverse STEM pipeline. Our longstanding partnership with the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation allows us to support teachers and students from across the country in merging the excitement of STEM with the hands-on learning and relevancy of STEM skills and educational pathways in support of STEM literacy for the workforce of the future.”
- Carleen Beste, Director, Corporate Citizenship and Manager, Northrop Grumman Foundation