Whitewater Times

Lincoln STEM Elementary School is set to receive the Excellence in STEM Award, known as a Stemmy, on October 30, 2024. The award will be presented at the 21st annual sySTEMnow Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The school is recognized in the Partnership category by STEM Forward, which hosts the Stemmy awards. Other winners include Muskego High School for Education, Generac for Employer, and Maverick Berner, a PhD candidate at Marquette University, for Individual.

A press release from STEM Forward states that Lincoln Elementary re-established itself as a STEM school within the Watertown Unified School District (WUSD) in 2016. The school relies on the organization and support of parents and staff through the Lincoln STEM PTO to provide these opportunities. The PTO is described as a 501(c)3 organization aiming to enhance students' education with engaging experiences such as magnetic construction gear boards and hydroponic grow supplies.

Principal Mark Getz commented on the award's significance: “This award helps to recognize all of the hard work that our whole staff does in engaging students in the community and using STEM ideas outside of the classroom.” Jason Bull, WUSD director of Innovation, Data, and Technology, also praised Lincoln STEM's role in advancing education: “The students, staff and parents of Lincoln STEM Elementary School embody these ideals and are pioneers in the area of STEM education.”

Superintendent Dr. Jarred Burke highlighted Lincoln Elementary's program for fostering creativity and problem-solving skills: “Their innovative approaches equip students with real-world skills and a passion for the challenges of our future workforce.”

STEM Forward is noted as metro Milwaukee's leading provider of STEM education outreach. Its programs aim to inspire local youth towards careers in science and technology fields.