This winter, the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE celebrated their 20,000th student served through programing since opening its doors in 2020. 

“To have served our 20,000th student underscores that the need for high-quality STEM programming persists and that we are continuing to provide a valuable experience for students,” said Elizabeth Taylor, director of STEM.

The STEM Center provides hands-on educational opportunities for students in the Milwaukee area grades K-12. Programs range from artificial intelligence, robotics, engineering and more. Local companies and corporate partners also sponsor and host camps and programs. The STEM Center additionally features its own FIRST & VEX community robotics teams for students grades seven through twelve.

“We hear time and time again from educators that the high-quality STEM experiences we offer in the Center are rare. There are no other places in Milwaukee that offer school day programming completely free of charge to high need schools along with transportation support. Many educators have been coming annually since schools reopened and have made the STEM Center a part of their curriculum or other learning experiences.”

For some students this is their first exposure to hands-on STEM and certain technologies. Even if it is only one workshop, the introduction to the world of STEM can have a significant impact on students who might not have thought about a STEM path in their futures. 

“We certainly hope students will come back to MSOE, but our aim is first and foremost to create and support inclusive, meaningful experiences for all K-12 students to explore the possibilities of their future, regardless of where their post-high school journey may take them.”

New programs coming in 2025 include an AI Literacy workshop and new projects in the art and design engineering studio. To explore a full list of current and future offerings from the We Energies STEM Center and to sign up for program updates, visit the STEM Center website. You can also learn more about the impact of the We Energies STEM Center through their annual report.