Missouri S&T is starting another year of the Missouri Manufacturing Academy, and school districts throughout the state with after-school programs or career courses are invited to apply to participate. 
 
The academy will begin on Thursday, Sept. 26 in Rolla with field trips to tour local industry partners’ facilities. Students will also visit Missouri S&T’s Center for Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies and take part in other on-campus activities related to manufacturing.
 
Teachers can apply to be included in the program at go.mst.edu/mma, and another kick-off session will be offered in spring 2025 for groups that can’t make it to Rolla this fall.  

After the event in Rolla, groups can complete the six-week curriculum at any time in their own schools and communities, and resources will be supplied at no cost by the Kummer Center for STEM Education.  
 
“The curriculum we have developed with our partners is designed to expose students to the manufacturing industry and its great career options,” says Courtney Jones, director of the Kummer Center for STEM Education. “Missouri S&T is one of the nation’s top universities for manufacturing, so it only makes sense we would embrace this academy and want to share it with as many schools as possible.” 
 
In 2023, during Missouri Manufacturing Academy’s first year, the maximum capacity was 60 students. This year, the number will double to 120 students. 

Middle schoolers are the targeted age group, but students in grades 6-10 can potentially participate.
 
“When students finish the academy, they should have a well-rounded understanding of the manufacturing world and why it is so important,” says Donna Luechtefeld, an S&T senior program support coordinator. “And this program has multiple hands-on activities and engaging lessons, so they will have fun while learning.” 
 
Lesson topics include a general introduction to manufacturing, manufacturing skills — with a robotic arm relay race, Missouri manufacturing companies, manufacturing careers, fiscal and resource management, and real-world problem solving. 
 
Partner organizations for the academy include the University of Missouri Extension, the Missouri After School Network, America Makes and the South Central Regional Professional Development Center. Melanie Keeney, S&T’s director of engagement and outreach, has also collaborated with the Kummer Center for STEM Education and assisted with the academy’s planning since its inception.
 
For more information about the Kummer Center for STEM Education, visit stemcenter.mst.edu. To stay updated about the center’s upcoming opportunities, complete the form at connect.mst.edu/register/stemcenterinfo.  

More about Missouri S&T

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to the Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.