Missouri STEM Celebration Week to culminate with STEM Signing Day, Missouri Chamber awarding scholarships to 13 students

On May 7, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry will recognize 13 outstanding students from across the state for committing to further their education in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

The third annual Missouri STEM Signing Day award ceremony will be a virtual event livestreamed on Facebook to cap off a full week of showcasing students’, education institutions’ and businesses’ programs and innovations from around the state on social media to promote STEM careers.

The Missouri Chamber Foundation’s Mathematics and Science Coalition, in partnership with the Boeing Company, launched STEM Signing Day in 2019 to raise awareness of STEM opportunities for students beyond high school. Each STEM Signing Day awardee received a $1,000 scholarship and signed a letter of intent to study a STEM field at their postsecondary education institution of choice.

“The chronic shortage of talent that many Missouri employers experience is especially pronounced in STEM sectors. Tackling this became one of the Missouri Chamber’s key focuses, which among many other initiatives led to the creation of this event three years ago,” said Daniel P. Mehan, Missouri Chamber President and CEO. “Borrowing the concept of a signing day from the world of athletics, we wanted to give Missouri’s high school STEM stars the same recognition as their athlete peers. This program allows us to not only celebrate the students graduating this year, but also broadcast the limitless STEM career possibilities to young minds across the state.”

Special guests giving remarks will include Gov. Mike Parson, Vice President and General Manager of Boeing Bombers and Fighters Steve Parker and Missouri Commissioner of Higher Education Zora Mulligan. This year’s program was offered in partnership with the Boeing Company, Orscheln Industries, Missouri Dept. of Higher Education and Workforce Development and Cerner.

The awardees submitted video messages answering the question, “How do you want to change the world with STEM?” View those videos here.

Members of the press are invited to watch the virtual awards ceremony on the Missouri Chamber’s Facebook page.

Missouri STEM Signing Day
May 7, 2021
11am-12pm CST
Link to watch the livestream: https://www.facebook.com/missourichamber

2021 STEM SIGNING DAY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

• Ayra Ali — Parkway West High School – Pre-Medicine — University of Missouri – Kansas City
• Anirudh Atluri — Lincoln College Prep — Pre-Medicine — University of Missouri – Kansas City
• Lane Borchers — Santa Fe High School — Construction Equipment Operations — State Technical College of Missouri
• Megan Espeland — North Kansas City High School — Animal Science — University of Missouri – Columbia
• Galen Gilmore — Pattonville High School — Aerospace Engineering — Missouri University of Science and Technology
• Sriharsha Gonguntla — Marquette High School — Biological Sciences — Washington University
• Kaylee Green — Jennings High School — Biomedical Engineering — Washington University
• Jaxon Luraschi — Pattonville High School — Paramedic — Lindenwood University
• Kyle Maynor — Lebanon High School — Aerospace Engineering — Missouri University of Science and Technology
• Hunter Norris — Lakeland R-III High School — Nursing — Clinton Technical School
• Clare Scheier — St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School — Clinical Lab Science — Missouri State University
• Juliana Silva — East High school — Computer Science — finalizing college decision
• William Weidler — Providence Classical Christian Academy — Computer Science — Missouri University of Science and Technology