Southwest Iowa STEM

Regional Newsletter:

September 2023

Hello, Southwest STEM Region, 

I am so glad to have the chance to introduce myself and say hello! I am Casey J. Wenstrand, the new Southwest Region STEM Manager! I am so excited to be on board and look forward to meeting all of you and working with you to bring STEM to Southwest Iowa. 

I am excited to hear from you; here is a bit about my journey before accepting this position. I hold a strong passion for Positive Youth Development with five-plus years of experience working to help youth be the best version of themselves through my time with Iowa 4-H from July 2016 to October 2021. My passion for helping youth grew through STEM, robotics, leadership, and communication projects. 

In October of 2021, I moved to Maryville, Missouri, to work for Northwest Missouri State University as a Career Services Specialist and started my Master's in Education Curriculum and Instruction. My passion for helping youth grew into helping young adults through career advice. While I enjoyed my work in Career Services, I missed helping the youth achieve their best. 

In June 2022, I moved into the Project Director/ Academic Coordinator of Upward Bound, where I utilized my passion and experience in Positive Youth Development, helping the participants of Upward Bound at Northwest Missouri State University prepare and navigate all areas of College. The best part of this role was getting to know the youth personally to help them fully broaden their horizons and see what they can achieve now and in the future." 

As I begin my time as the Southwest Regional STEM Manager, I look forward to returning to my hometown of Red Oak, where I am excited to be more of a "Funcle" (Fun Uncle). If I am not being a "Funcle," the chances are you can find me on a lake, coordinating an event, or will be deep in conversation with friends or family. 

If you would like to discuss STEM in any capacity, my email is wenstrand@iowastem.org, or scan the QR Code, and I will reach out to you soon! 

Nominate Southwest STEM Teacher Today! 

Deadline is October 10, 2023

FIRST LEGO League Season has started!   

The colorful 2023 - 2024FIRST INSHOW MASTERPIECE season resources have arrived!  Find out how easy it is to start a FIRST LEGO League team in your community. Grants for rookie and veteran teams are available. Fun Iowa events for the season can be found here. We look forward to seeing you at a Regional Qualifier! Go to the FIRST website for game and season details.  For more information, email firstlegoleague@iastate.edu.   

Middle & High School Robotics Program Recruiting   

Do you want to teach students about programming, designing, and the engineering design process all while working as a team? The FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) program is open for students in grades 7-12! Grant opportunities are available for new teams! To find out more, visit www.ftciowa.org or email Rebecca Whitaker (rwhitaker@firstpartners.org)   

High School Robotics - FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)    

FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) – grades 9-12, is the top level of competitive robotics for high school-aged students in the U.S. and the world. In Iowa, approximately 30 teams (operated by high schools, 4H programs, and STEM non-profit organizations) compete on a regional and international level. FRC participation opens access to STEM education pathways, careers and top-notch workforce development. To learn how you can add this program to your STEM offerings, contact jmargrett@firstinspires.org.     

Coach, Mentor, Volunteer    

Form a team, support a team, or help out at a competition. FIRST Robotics is a non-profit organization that is fueled by the inspiration and expertise of people like you who are willing to invest time and talent in your community's youth. And despite the name, it's about #MoreThanRobots. If you're an expert in something and willing to lend your support, you're needed on a team. And it's incredibly fun, too! For more information about getting involved in any of the aforementioned programs, please reach out to the specified contact. Make a better tomorrow by getting involved today!