SSEP Blog – Ida County, IA

OABCIG students working on experiment program

Galva Holstein and Ridge View administration were thrilled with the contribution received from philanthropist John Pappajohn. Mr. Pappajohn’s desire to have the students learn about STEM and to imagine what might be possible will be accomplished by participating in the last space shuttle launch. His generosity was the catalyst to make this dream a reality!

Students gathered recently in Early, Iowa, home of the Ridge View Middle School, to receive a book bag with a water bottle. These were provided to students to acknowledge their participation in preparing proposals for the last space shuttle flight complements of the Iowa Math + Science Education Partnership. They were excited to be a part of this STEM learning opportunity!

Students and stakeholders gathered recently at the Rosemary Clausen Performing Arts Center in Holstein, Iowa to determine the selection of three proposals to be forwarded on to the national review panel. Jim Christensen, Northwest AEA, provided community members of an overview of the launch process. Administrators (Dave Kwikkel, Ken Slater, Ellen Pinkhinke & Mike Richard) from the district read letters from: Governor Terry Branstad & Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds, Senator Charles Grassley, Senator Tom Harkin, and philanthropist John Pappajohn. Wayne Brincks from Congressman Steve King’s office addressed the participants and State Representative Jason Schultz also congratulated the efforts of the students & educators. Stakeholders that addressed the group were: Phil Burk (Pioneer Hi-Bred), Tonja Richards (Iowa Math + Science Education Partnership) and Jay Staker (Iowa Space Grant Center). Representative stakeholders from Ida County Economic Development and Ida County Extension were also present for the event. Our science educators: Art Witten, Patty Wheeler, Amy Schumacher, & Doug Davison, were also acknowledged for their tremendous efforts with this historic project. (See more images on the Media page.)

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