Encouraging students to pursue an education and careers in fields related to STEM, the event, celebrates those students from the area making commitments to attend some of the country’s top technical schools, colleges and universities and to focus their studies in STEM.

AS with just about any large event in 2020, this year’s STEM Signing Day is a virtual event to avoid the spread of the corona virus. To kick off the event, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot gave the keynote speech to four dozen participants who had applied through the Chicago STEM Pathways Cooperative which aims at addressing inequities in the STEM education from early childhood to career. Each student was awarded a $1,000 educational scholarship from The Motorola Solutions Foundation.

“This is an exciting day for Chicago’s students and a proud day for our entire city,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “I want to personally congratulate every one of our brilliant and talented young people for their hard-earned accomplishments, and wish them every success as they take this next step in their education and future careers. Bold investments in STEM programming with partners like the Motorola Solutions Foundation and Boeing empower our students to achieve the historic gains they are making, putting our communities on a stronger path towards a brighter future for us all.”

Additionally, this year Boeing will work with 560 students across the United States through participation in similar STEM Signing Day events.

“We are proud to support the Chicago STEM Signing Day and all 560 students participating in events like this across the U.S.,” said Greg Smith, executive vice president of Enterprise Operations and Communications (interim), and chief financial officer at Boeing. “Congratulations to each of you, and thank you for dedicating your bright future to these essential fields.”

Access a replay of the event here.

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According to a press release, the money will be utilized to create 4 new centers by the tribal enterprise advancement. The main goal of these centers is to equip individuals with the resources to make their community thrive by building upon the existing science and engineer expertise present at TCUs.

These science and engineering professionals will be given further employment opportunities in the national and state government agencies. This will provide them with the resources they need to make changes in the standard of life and financial well-being of other indigenous communities.

Federal funding is nothing new for the TCUs. Since the 1970s they have invested heavily in the STEM capacity of such colleges and universities. However, with this new award, many things are set to change for the good of the community.

“We anticipate these new centers will produce greater innovation and economic expansion within the communities served by the TCUP institutions,” said Jody Chase, program director in NSF’s Education and Human Resources Directorate.

New centers awarded to these colleges and universities are:

• The Aaniiih Nakoda Nic’ –Mni (Water) Center
• Tribal Enterprise Advancement Center For Community Marine Research
• United Tribes Technical College’s Intertribal Research and Resource Center
• Navajo Technical University’s Advanced Manufacturing Center

All these centers will have a specific function and their work will promote the life of native communities everywhere. The main focus area is that of research and development in all these centers.

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