Last Call for Golf!
Join STEM Forward's 21st Annual Scholarship Fundraiser Golf Outing and help support the future of STEM in Wisconsin. Proceeds from the event fund eleven $3,000 scholarships, totaling $33,000, for local students pursuing STEM careers while also supporting impactful STEM programming throughout southeastern Wisconsin. Sponsorship opportunities are available at various levels, including options with a foursome and others without.
Participants will enjoy an 18-hole golf scramble with cart, morning refreshments and lunch, on-course contests including a Hole-in-One and 19th Hole Putting Contest, a reception with appetizers and drinks, a silent auction, raffles, and an awards ceremony featuring the opportunity to meet the scholarship recipients. Join us by registering by August 3, as we celebrate 21 years of investing in the next generation of STEM talent!
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Location:
Morningstar Golfers Club
S77W26285 Prairieside Drive
Waukesha, WI 53189
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Not a golfer? We've got you covered!
If you don't golf, you can still join the fun by attending the Golf Social for just $25. Guests will enjoy a reception featuring appetizers and drinks, participate in the silent auction and special raffles, and attend the awards ceremony, where they will have the opportunity to meet STEM Forward scholarship recipients and learn about their accomplishments and future STEM aspirations.
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Be Ready to Raise Scholarship Funds While Shopping!
STEM Forward's online silent auction opens on August 1 and features 40 exciting packages available for bidding. You do not need to be present to participate or win, and every bid helps support local STEM scholarships for students pursuing STEM careers. Click below to see a preview of the auction.
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sySTEMnow Conference Sponsors Needed
Sponsorship opportunities are now available for the 23rd Annual sySTEMnow Conference, taking place on October 28, 2026. This year's theme, "Let's Go! Discovering the Joy in STEM," will inspire educators, industry professionals, and community leaders to explore the creativity, curiosity, and excitement that drive STEM learning and innovation. The success of sySTEMnow depends on our sponsors, whose partnership makes this premier STEM conference possible. We invite organizations committed to advancing STEM education and workforce development to join us as a sponsor and help create an impactful experience for attendees across Wisconsin. For sponsorship details and benefits, please review the available sponsorship packages.
| | | Educators: Don't Miss This STEM Competition! | | Theme is Fire Resilient Future | Students are challenged to design a resilient future city that can prevent, protect, and recover from urban wildfires. | | Future City Middle School Competition | |
STEM Forward is excited to announce that educator registration is now open for the Wisconsin Regional Future City Competition, taking place on January 23, 2027. This year's event will be held at a new location, WCTC's Pewaukee Campus, marking an exciting new chapter for the program. Future City provides middle school students with an authentic engineering experience that fosters teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and project management skills while inspiring interest in STEM careers.
We encourage educators to register their teams today and join us for another innovative season of Future City Wisconsin!
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We Have Three Part-time Hybrid Positions Open!
STEM Forward is hiring for several part-time, hybrid positions to advance our mission to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders. We are seeking a Program & Event Manager to oversee educational programs, volunteer engagement, community partnerships, and key initiatives, including Future City, the Engineering Machine Design Contest (EMDC), and Contrapt. We are also seeking a Marketing Communications & Program Manager to lead content creation, social media, email marketing, website management, event coordination, and program support.
Both positions average 32 hours per week from September through May and 20–22 hours per week during the summer months. Ideal candidates are organized, collaborative professionals with strong communication, project management, and relationship-building skills who are passionate about STEM education and workforce development.
In addition, STEM Forward is seeking a part-time Bookkeeper (approximately 10–18 hours per month) to maintain financial records, support accounting operations, and prepare financial reports. Candidates should have bookkeeping experience, proficiency in QuickBooks Online, strong attention to detail, and the ability to work independently.
| | Please see the complete job descriptions for additional details. | | |
TO APPLY:
Send your resume along with a cover letter indicating your desired position to Rich Merkel, Executive Director, at rmerkel@stemforward.org
| | | We Could Not Do It Without You | | A Huge Thank You to our Golf Outing Sponsors! | | Learn How Collaboration is Bringing STEM Learning to the Classroom | | A Huge Thank You to Our Partners | | |
STEM Forward partners with a variety of organizations to bring engaging, hands-on STEM experiences directly to schools throughout southeastern Wisconsin. These unique collaborations provide students with opportunities to explore STEM careers, interact with professionals, and participate in meaningful learning activities. We invite educators to explore the partnership highlight documents to learn more about the available programs with SEWRPC, MATC, and the DNR.
If you have an idea for a new partnership or would like to collaborate with STEM Forward, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Rich Merkel at rmerkel@stemforward.org.
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NASA TechRise Student Challenge
The NASA TechRise Student Challenge will return this September, offering students in grades 6–12 the opportunity to design experiments for a NASA-sponsored high-altitude balloon flight. During the 2025–26 challenge, more than 5,000 students participated nationwide, including a winning team from Oconomowoc High School in Wisconsin. The free challenge provides educators with classroom resources, information sessions, and student learning opportunities, while 60 selected teams will receive $1,500 to build their experiment, technical support from NASA advisors, and the chance to test their project on a flight vehicle. Schools of all experience levels are encouraged to participate.
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Help shape the future of AI education!
BootUp PD and the micro Educational Foundation are inviting Wisconsin educators in grades 4–8 to join the year-long micro CreateAI Pilot Program. This professional learning opportunity helps teachers bring hands-on AI exploration into the classroom through creativity, movement, coding, and interactive learning experiences, empowering students to become creators rather than just consumers of artificial intelligence.
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Girls Who Code Fall Pathways Now Accepting Applications!
High school students are encouraged to apply for Girls Who Code's free, virtual Pathways program this fall. Running from October through December, participants can explore tracks in AI, cybersecurity, game design, and web development. Applications are due by August 26, 2026.
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