From student showcases to leadership gratitude — June’s impact belongs to you too.

June 2025 Issue

Celebrating Students, Honoring Leaders, Looking Toward the Future

13th Annual State of STEM Stakeholder Breakfast

Brings C-STEM Community Together

The 13th Annual State of STEM Stakeholder Breakfast was full of information, inspiration, and celebration. (SEE MORE IMAGES FROM THE BREAKFAST)

There is still time to support C-STEM in reaching its fundraising goal! Give today!

We need your help! Every dollar counts and goes directly toward creating equitable STEM opportunities.

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Honoring Impactful Leaders

C-STEM honored several STEM advocates during the breakfast. These talented, deserving individuals share our commitment to providing access to STEM for all students, regardless of color, income level, or any other factor.

Mark Thierry, STEMing the Tide Award Honoree

This award recognizes an individual that exemplifies extraordinary dedication, leadership, and excellence in public service. Thierry’s commitment to C-STEM since its inception proves his unwavering passion for the youth in our community, "I feel that it is my duty to help make a difference in their lives."

Darrell Williams, C-STEM Community Champion Award Honoree

This award recognizes a business or individual that demonstrates exceptional commitment to advancing STEM education and making a meaningful impact in the lives of students and educators. Honorees are celebrated for their dedication, partnership, and support in helping C-STEM bridge the gap between education and opportunity in underserved communities.

Master Teacher Awards

These awards honor incredible teachers who inspire, guide, and challenge their students to think creatively and step outside the box in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.

Congratulations to our 2025 recipients:

Natasha Greene, Sheldon ISD, C-STEM Coach for 7 years

Joanna Jorgensen, Sheldon ISD, C-STEM Coach for 7 years

Jessica Little, Sheldon ISD, C-STEM Coach for 7 years

Cesia Medina, Houston ISD, C-STEM Coach for 9 years

Congratulations to all honorees. You make C-STEM Possible! Because of your commitment, we have touched countless students’ lives!

Celebrating Student Success

C-STEM was honored to award six Comerica Bank STEMing the Tide scholarship awards at this year’s breakfast. 

Congratulations to the Scholarship Recipients:

Rosalinda Reyes, Texas State University – San Marcos

Alexander Gonzalez, Texas A&M University – College Station

Ilianna Rangel, Texas Woman’s University

Hunter Edwards, Prairie View A&M University

Duro Dina, Baylor University

Jhori Giles, Louisiana State University

We look forward to the amazing things you’ll

accomplish in the coming years!

Examining the Future of STEM

The 23rd State of STEM Education Report was shared as customary at the Annual State of STEM Education Stakeholder Breakfast thank you to our sponsors who make this report possible each year. Download the report to for updates and current trends on data C-STEM has captured over two decades reflecting hundreds of examples of how targeted programming shifts student outcomes over time. The stories of this quantitative and qualitative data present the transformative impact of C-STEM programming, benchmarked against national and state indicators, and offer an evidence-based blueprint for expanding equitable STEM education.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

This year’s breakfast was made possible by our incredible sponsors and partners. We are so grateful for you!

SEE THE BREAKFAST HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO

STEM Education Insights

5 Benefits of Summer STEM Camps

Written by: Reagan Flowers, Ph.D.

While summer camps often help meet the childcare needs of working parents, the benefits for students go far beyond simple supervision. Summer STEM camps provide students with meaningful opportunities to develop new skills and engage in hands-on learning.



Keep Reading

Summer Camps Bring Summer STEM Learning to More Than 200 Students

For the second consecutive summer, C-STEM partnered with the YMCA of Greater Houston to deliver engaging, hands-on, project-based STEM learning experiences for K–8th grade campers at Houston ISD Sunrise Centers. The camps were held throughout June at the Mission Milby and Baker Ripley Connect YMCA Sunrise Center locations.

In total, 220 campers aged 5-13 engaged in hands-on STEM projects. Students in each age group got the chance to engage in multiple fun, educational activities. Through the various projects students explored engineering and design, used technology to make musical instrucments and to transmit music, learned about chemical reactions and various gas elements on the periodic table, and learned how to create electric circuits.

The campers loved their experiences and created thank-you notes. "Thank you so much for C-STEM and the wonderful things," said camper Naomi.

Inspiring Young Creators with the Visual Arts

We had a chance to speak with Ms. Lee Wallin at Whittier Elementary, a C-STEM partner school in Washington D.C. Through generous funding from Dow, Whittier STEM students have been exploring exciting projects, which they presented at a showcase in April.

Wallin runs the school's Broadcast Scholars Program, the "C" in C-STEM, Communications. They documented the showcase with videos and photos, and they even have their own YouTube show!

Q: How long has the Broadcasting Scholars Program been in place? 

A: The broadcasting program at Whittier Elementary began in 2021 as part of our Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM). From the start, we dreamed of creating a dynamic, student-led media program—and when the CIA launched a $30,000 Makers grant competition to fund innovative design spaces, we knew exactly what we wanted to build: a full production studio right in our school. 

With a clear vision and big ambitions, we secured the grant and got to work. What began with a few curious voices, and a borrowed microphone has since grown into a state-of-the-art studio equipped with lights, cameras, green screens, teleprompters, and student editors leading the charge. Now in our third year of production, we are several seasons into The Whittier Morning Tea, with a loyal schoolwide audience tuning in weekly to celebrate our community and student voices. 

Q: What is the goal of the program? 
A: The goal of the broadcasting program is to empower students to find and use their voices. Through journalism, interviewing, scriptwriting, storytelling, editing, and on-air performance, students build confidence, critical thinking skills, media literacy, and a sense of purpose. We want every scholar to feel that their ideas matter, their creativity has power, and their voice can make an impact. 

Q: How many students participate and how are they chosen? 
A: Each year, about 25 to 35 students in grades 3–5 take part in the broadcasting program. Students apply by sharing their interests, strengths, and preferred ways of expressing themselves. We intentionally seek a diverse mix of talents—writers, tech enthusiasts, performers, quiet thinkers—because a great newsroom thrives on a variety of voices. 

Roles rotate throughout the year, giving students the chance to experience everything from anchoring and directing to editing and behind-the-scenes production. Selection is based on passion and curiosity, not prior experience—because every student deserves the chance to grow, lead, and shine. 

Q: How did The Morning Tea start and what has its impact been? 
A: The Whittier Morning Tea began during the pandemic as a simple weekly update recorded on an iPad—just a way to stay connected during uncertain times. But what started small quickly grew. With student creativity at the center, it evolved into a high-energy, student-run broadcast that shines a spotlight on the heart of our school: our students, staff, programs, and passions. 

Today, The Morning Tea features segments like book talks, interviews with community leaders, campus news, original skits, and student-produced features. Its impact has been far-reaching—students feel seen and celebrated, families stay connected and informed, and the Whittier community has a joyful, shared space for lifting up our scholars’ voices. It’s not just a broadcast anymore—it’s a platform for storytelling, leadership, and pride. It’s a voice for Whittier. 

Q: Is there anything else you'd like to share? 
A: Yes! What makes this program magical is that it's run by kids. They pitch stories, solve tech glitches, coach each other on-camera, and bring their unique perspectives to every frame. We’ve had students who were once shy become on-air naturals, and others who discovered a love of film, photography, or podcasting. 
And thanks to generous community support, including grants and our SEM fundraisers, our scholars now have access to professional equipment and mentorship opportunities. Broadcasting at Whittier is more than a class—it’s a movement. 

Be Part of Our Mission

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The Integrated C-STEM Training Institute

Stay connected to see the exciting things we have in store.

Everyone is an Artist and an Engineer!

84% of Educators

who completed the 2024-25 Integrated C-STEM Training Institute reported that they would recommend the training to others.

EXPLORE C-STEM TEACHER TRAINING & TOOLKITS

Opportunities & Deadlines

For Students & Parents

Summer Intensive

This free summer program empowers scholars with coding, leadership, and career readiness skills.

 July 7-August 15 via Zoom

Apply Now

For Teachers & Leaders

National STEM Education Program Opportunity

The Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) is a  2025 Opportunity for a school community to engage 100+ Grade 5-12 students in real microgravity experiment design and proposal writing, with one experiment in each community selected for operation by astronauts on the International Space Station.

Learn more and apply

Traveling Exhibit

C-STEM is proud to announce its new traveling exhibit honoring 400 Years of African American History and Culture and its interconnectedness to STEM. The exhibit will open September 27th at the African American Research Center at the Gregory Campus.

If you would like to host the "Becoming to Empowering: Commemorating 400 Years of STEM exhibit, please email us at info@cstem.org.

Access the Exhibit Packet

STEM News

New program teaches geometry through golf

Students Gather as Winners of World’s Largest K-12 Science Competition

How to Motivate Students to Succeed in STEM

Building Business-Ready Minds: The Role of Design Thinking & Micro-Entrepreneurship in STEM

How Businesses Can Empower Students to "Go Pro" in STEM

Future-Proofing Eduation: Transforming Universities with STEM Integration

Reading Comprehension has Improved but Not Nearly Enough

Thank You to Our Sponsors and Partners!

Executive Board

Advisory Board

Joi Beasley

Lucy Bremond
Zawadi Bryant

Bobby Bryant

Dr. Kelly Coleman

LaQuita Cyprian

Ruthie Lee Esene

Michael Harding

Renee Logans

Dr. Martina Ogbonna

Dr. Letitia Ozoude

Charles Samuel

Miloni Shah (C-STEM Alum)

Dr. Frazier Wilson

Syalisa Winata

Laolu Davies Yemitan

We are C-STEM!

C-STEM Teacher and Student Support Services, Inc.

3226 Alabama Street, Houston, Texas 77004

Office: (713) 443-4521 Email: info@cstem.org Website:www.cstem.org

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