Missouri Chamber STEM Signing Day honors high school seniors pursuing STEM careers

At the Missouri Chamber’s STEM Signing Day — in partnership with The Boeing Company and the Missouri Department of Higher Education — outstanding students from across the state were recognized for committing to pursue STEM careers.

Inspired by signing days for athletes, the first-ever May 8 event honored ten Missouri high school seniors as they received $1,000 scholarships and signed letters of intent to study a STEM field in college. The program is a new workforce development and STEM career awareness effort of the Missouri Chamber, driven by its 15-year strategic initiative Missouri 2030.

“Our society does a great job of celebrating student athletes. We think our high school STEM stars deserve the same recognition as their athlete peers,” said Daniel P. Mehan, Missouri Chamber president and CEO. “We are thrilled to see Missouri’s business and education communities come together at Missouri STEM Signing Day to support the STEM workforce of tomorrow. These ten high school graduates represent the best and brightest that Missouri has to offer, and we are proud to recognize them for choosing to pour their talent and passion into STEM career pathways.”

This year’s Missouri STEM Signing Day program was sponsored by The Boeing Company.

“At Boeing, we see firsthand the endless opportunities available to those with a STEM-focused skill set,” said John Frederick, Director of State and Local Government Relations at The Boeing Company. “It is our honor to recognize Missouri students committed to pursuing a career in STEM. The opportunity that follows them through their career will surely benefit Boeing and all Missourians alike.”

The Missouri Department of Higher Education served as a key collaborator on the new program.

“STEM careers continue to be a driving force of Missouri’s economy. We are proud to partner with The Boeing Company and the Missouri Chamber to recognize students devoted to pursuing these important programs of study,” said Zora Mulligan, commissioner of MDHE. “Choosing STEM will give these students the skills and knowledge to fill a needed gap here at home, and prepare them to compete in a global marketplace.”

The 2019 Missouri STEM Signing Day awardees are:

• Ethan Bowers from Lawson High School, who will study electrical engineering at the University of Missouri – Columbia
• Julio Gracida-Basurto from Belton High School, who will study electrical computer engineering at the University of Missouri – Kansas City
• Nathaniel Hardy from College Heights Christian School, who will study mechanical engineering at the University of Missouri – Columbia
• Kassandra Hayes from Rolla High School, who will study chemical engineering at the Missouri University of Science and Technology
• Kayla Kline from Hazelwood West High School, who will study molecular biology at Missouri State University
• Gracemary Nganga from Hazelwood West High School, who will study immunology at Stanford University
• Naseem Saquer from Central High School in Springfield, who will study chemical informatics at Missouri State University
• Jennifer Tenholder from Hazelwood West High School, who will study digital forensics at Southeast Missouri State University
• Corey Valleroy from Francis Howell North High School, who will study mechanical engineering at the University of Missouri – Columbia
• Saydi Vandel from Morgan County R-II High School, who will study aviation flight technology at Ozark Technical Community College