NJ STEM Month March 2022 Kicks Off

On Mar 1, 2022

For the fourth year in a row, March is recognized as NJ STEM Month. NJ STEM Month is a celebration co-hosted by the New Jersey STEM Pathways Network (“NJSPN”) and its parent organization the Research & Development Council of New Jersey (R&D Council of NJ). Keeping with tradition, Gov. Phil Murphy issued a gubernatorial proclamation in support of NJ STEM Month. The month highlights the Garden State’s many accomplishments in science, technology, engineering, math (“STEM”) and innovation. The goal of NJ STEM Month 2022 is to impact 35,000 learners.

This past Friday, the NJSPN held a virtual event to kickoff NJ STEM Month with STEM leaders from across the state. Special guests included New Jersey seven-year-old STEM YouTube host of “Tucker Time” Tucker Wells, United States Department of Education STEM Fellow Patti Curtis, and STEM Month’s sponsor Teq and partner of New Jersey Maker’s Day. Additionally, three NJSPN “I CAN STEM” role models joined as part of a panel to highlight diversity and inclusion in STEM. Additionally, NJ STEM Month award winners were announced:

• STEM Advocate of the Year: Dr. Paul A. Winslow-president & co-founder of Students 2 Science
• STEM Civic Leadership Award: New Jersey Academy of Science
• STEM Collaboration of the Year: Atlantic Cape Community College, Atlantic City School District, Mindbytes, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, South Jersey Industries & South Jersey STEM and Innovation Partnership (SJSIP)
• STEM Educator of the Year: Stacy Tulloch- STEM teacher at Lyndhurst School District
• STEM Corporate Champion of the Year: Google

The kickoff event was recorded and can be viewed at www.tinyurl.com/NJSTEMMonth-Kickoff.

One of NJ STEM Month’s flagship programs is its mini-grant opportunities. In 2022, 28 NJ STEM Month mini-grants were awarded by the NJSPN, which is supported by a grant from the Overdeck Family Foundation. Through these mini-grants, close to 20,000 learners will be impacted. Examples of this year’s mini-grant events include: a STEAM Fair hosted by the Boys and Girls Club of NJ, Leaders in STEM Luncheon hosted by NPower and Girls Coding with Girls hosted by the Warren Hills Computer Science Club.

“New Jersey has so much to be proud of when it comes to STEM in education and innovation and NJ STEM Month was created to dedicate an entire month to highlight these accomplishments, as well as to provide opportunities for more learners to engage in STEM activities and events,” said Kim Case, Executive Director of the R&D Council of NJ and NJSPN Manager. “We encourage every New Jerseyan to take part in NJ STEM Month.”

Anyone can participate in NJ STEM Month by hosting/attending STEM-related events and engaging in a Twitter contest throughout the month of March using #NJSTEMMonth; the contest winner will receive NJ STEM Month swag.

NJSPN has also reached out to all state legislators to encourage them to highlight NJ STEM Month on social media. Union County legislator Senator Joe Cryan (Legislative District 20) recently tweeted “STEM education pushes us forward. Great to celebrate #NJSTEMMonth with @NJSTEMPathways.”

Information about how to get involved in NJ STEM Month can be found at https://njstempathways.org/njstemmonth/

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