Frank Leta Honda Donates Two New Minivans to YES Program
Frank Leta Honda has donated two 2020 Odyssey minivans to support STEM outreach programming for the Saint Louis Science Center’s Youth Exploring Science (YES) Program that for over 20 years has helped prepare under-resourced high school students to become the next generation of STEM professionals.
With a corporate philanthropic mission of positively impacting the community by providing safe and reliable transportation to those in need, Frank Leta Honda has been a generous supporter of the Science Center since 2007.
Company founder Frank Leta and his grandsons Steve, Michael and Joe Brown agree, “We are thrilled to support the Science Center’s YES Program that does so much to both help disadvantaged teens to realize their potential to become STEM career professionals and bring STEM education to our community.”
The new Honda minivans will be used to transport YES teens and educators as they present STEM learning outreach initiatives throughout the St. Louis community once health guidelines allow for public interaction. YES teens can be found delivering “Pop-Up Science” STEM demonstrations, conducting “Science Savvy” on-the-street interviews and providing many other STEM outreach activities at community centers, parks and area venues throughout the summer. Each minivan will have magnetic signage featuring the Frank Leta Honda donation in support of the YES Program. The signage will be donated by the long-time Science Center supporters, ADgraphix.
“The YES Program is truly grateful for the Frank Leta Honda minivans that will enable our YES teens to continue to bring STEM activities to thousands in the community who may not have access to the Science Center including underrepresented populations in STEM fields,” says Siinya Williams, senior director of Community Science. “When our YES teens reach these under-represented populations, they have the unique opportunity to share what they have learned in the YES Program and spark an interest in STEM for audiences that are often from demographics like themselves and show that they too can be the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators of the future.”
Saint Louis Science Center Receives Boeing Grant to Support YES Program
The Saint Louis Science Center is proud to announce an $80,000 grant award from The Boeing Company, which will help fund our nationally recognized Youth Exploring Science (YES) and Summertime Science programs.
“We are grateful for the funding from Boeing Global Engagement Grant and the significant support it will provide to bring innovative STEM learning to under-resourced students in our community,” says Siinya Williams, senior director of Community Science for the Science Center. “These programs are fundamental to the Science Center’s mission to ignite and sustain lifelong science and technology learning in our community.”
Boeing’s contribution will support the Science Center’s impactful educational programs which bring engaging, project-based STEM learning opportunities to youth that have limited access to high-quality, out-of-school learning experiences. The year-round YES Program helps prepare under-resourced high school students through informal STEM learning for graduation, college and future careers. Funding will support the YES Aerospace and Cyber Security components which are particularly relevant to the St. Louis community’s need for a well-educated and trained STEM workforce. These two popular components address both the rich history of aviation in St. Louis and the documented need for filling the workforce pipeline with technology-savvy college graduates and technicians.
The Boeing Global Engagement Grant will support the YES Summertime Science program that provides free STEM learning for thousands of under-served elementary, middle and high school students from local community organizations and camps. The YES students plan the curriculum, hands-on STEM activities and lead the programming that demonstrates for these young learners just how much of their lives, interests and experience connect with STEM. If health and safety guidelines prevent in-person Summertime Science programming, the YES teens will deliver the programming virtually to the community organizations and camps.
Boeing funding will also enable YES students to bring Pop-Up Science events, once health and safety guidelines allow, to several thousand in the community throughout the summer at high-visibility St. Louis parks and community centers. YES students will deliver engaging activities for the public that promote an appreciation for STEM learning.
