02 Apr Meet locally grown innovators, creators and researchers at the PLTW Senior Showcase

WHAT: Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Senior Showcase 2015—celebrating the ingenuity and creativity of PLTW students in engineering and biomedical sciences. Sponsored by KC STEM Alliance.

WHO: More than 250 seniors from 30 schools who have completed the PLTW courses, Engineering Design and Development or Biomedical Innovations—and have completed up to four PLTW courses during high school, culminating in this senior capstone project. 90% of these students plan to pursue a career path in a STEM related field.

WHEN: Wednesday, April 15, 2015, 9:00-11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Union Station, Kansas City, MO

ABOUT THE PROJECTS: Engineering Design and Development (EDD) students work in teams to research, design, develop and test an original solution to a valid open-ended technical problem—working closely with industry professionals who provide mentoring—ultimately presenting their solution to a panel of engineers. Biomedical Innovations (BI) students conduct in-depth research or design innovative solutions for the health challenges of the 21st century. Independent students and student teams work with a mentor or advisor from a university, hospital, research institution, or the biomedical industry.

NEW in 2015: The PLTW Kansas City Engineering Design Contest will engage local and national engineering professionals to judge and recognize the best engineered projects prior to the event. During the event, KCSourceLink and the Center for Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development (C.E.E.D.) will invite local entrepreneurs and business leaders to serve as guest “investors” to identify the top innovative ideas.  Commerce Bank will serve as the investment bank and identify the top innovation winners.  Top students will win scholarship prizes and the chance to work with entrepreneurs to further develop and market their project idea.

ATTENDANCE INFO:  Free and open to the public. Parking is available for $3 in the 4-story garage, west of Union Station.

Please note: The front entrance to Union Station and part of Pershing Road will be CLOSED April 15th for an event.  Parking is available for $3 in the four-level parking garage west of Union Station, accessible from the West (Broadway and Pershing.) Please enter through the lower West side entrance. 

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the nation’s leading provider of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) curriculum and high-quality teacher professional development model. In the 5-county Kansas City metropolitan area, Project Lead the Way programs exist in 26 districts, providing access to more than 91% of the student population in our region. (Jackson, Clay, Platte in Mo., and Johnson and Wyandotte in Ks.) For more information, visit www.pltw.org

KC STEM Alliance is a collaborative network of educators, business affiliates and organizations that inspires interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math careers by supporting K-12 STEM education and programs. The KC STEM Alliance partners with organizations, like Project Lead the Way (PLTW), that share the vision of creating a robust and sustainable regional STEM workforce. Learn more at www.kcstem.org

PLTW High School Senior Showcase

Update: Click Here to view photos from the event. 

Media Contact:

Jean Melech
KC STEM Alliance
816-809-9522
melechje@kcstem.org