Civic Engagement Project Led by RHIT Faculty Awarded $25,000 Grant
Friday, January 09, 2026
A team led by Rose-Hulman faculty has been awarded a $25,000 grant to develop STEM education kits in conjunction with community and industry partners.
The Crossroads STEM Kit Exchange, a civic engagement project seeking to reimagine STEM education possibilities in Terre Haute, has been awarded a $25,000 grant at the STEM Innovation Forum's STEMxcelerator Pitch Competition in Columbus, Ohio. Led by a team of Rose-Hulman faculty, the project seeks to leverage Terre Haute's unique intellectual and industrial resources to fill a gap in STEM education and to create a pipeline to the workforce. Rose-Hulman Alfred R. Schmidt Endowed Chair for Excellence in Teaching & Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Jenny Mueller, PhD, delivered the winning pitch.
Rose-Hulman students, working closely with industry partners, will develop educational STEM kits and modules to pique the interests of students in grades 3-5 who may not currently see themselves in STEM fields or have an understanding of what a career in STEM might look like. The Crossroads STEM Kit Exchange aims to support regional talent pipeline needs by inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders and learners.
A nod to Terre Haute's nickname as the "Crossroads of America," the name of the project symbolizes the intersection and connection among Rose-Hulman, community partners, and industry partners. Designed in collaboration with several stakeholders, including North American Lighting, the Terre Haute Children's Museum, and the 14th and Chestnut Community Center in Terre Haute, the project is a step toward building a stronger STEM community identity.
"Our project seeks to bring meaningful STEM activities to children in community spaces outside of their schools," said Rose-Hulman Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Rebecca Bercich, PhD. "This will address several barriers to STEM engagement and mentorship."
Mueller serves as principal investigator on the grant, with support from Bercich; Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Kelley Dugan, PhD; Associate Dean of Professional Development and Professor of English Rich House, PhD; and Chief Director of Institutional Research, Planning, and Assessment and Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering Matt Lovell, PhD.
Rose-Hulman faculty and students, in conjunction with community and industry partner representatives, created the original pitch at the Community Engaged Alliance's Idea2Action September 2025 event, where they received actionable feedback and strong encouragement to continue pursuing this project. Students Jorge Luis Sol Casas, Jayne McCormack, Beej Bowling, and Stevie Irvine, co-authored and delivered this pitch.
In addition to providing quality educational materials to youth, the project also seeks to increase Rose-Hulman students' understanding of community context and civic identity. First-year mechanical engineering students in select sections of the Introduction to Design course will create the STEM education kits.
"How do you know if you know something? You can explain it clearly to someone younger than you," said Bercich. "It also trains (Rose-Hulman students) in audience analysis, empathy, and adapting to non-technical audiences."
By design, the Crossroads STEM Kit Exchange seeks to be more grounded in its community than existing STEM educational materials. Throughout the design process, the Rose-Hulman students will work in conjunction with an industry partner, such as North American Lighting, to develop hands-on activities that reflect authentic industry practice, as well as with the Terre Haute Children's Museum to ensure age-appropriate interactivity.
Faculty and student volunteers will facilitate the STEM kit modules over the summer at Terre Haute's 14th & Chestnut Community Center, which provides afterschool and summer programming in a safe space for children in historically underserved neighborhoods.
"For some students, it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spark an interest or learn more," said Connor Scanlon, director of the 14th and Chestnut Center. "(It's a) really good opportunity or experience that they are not going to have anywhere else."
Three of the most prevalent barriers to accessing STEM education include transportation, expertise, and resources, including both time and funding. The Crossroads STEM Kit Exchange seeks to overcome those barriers by meeting students at a community location they already visit, connecting local industries and universities to underserved neighborhoods, and volunteering student and faculty time to make a difference in the community.
The Crossroads STEM Kit Exchange positions Rose-Hulman and Terre Haute as a nexus of curiosity and innovation, building and leveraging knowledge and partnerships across the community for mutual growth.
Rose-Hulman students, working closely with industry partners, will develop educational STEM kits and modules to pique the interests of students in grades 3-5 who may not currently see themselves in STEM fields or have an understanding of what a career in STEM might look like. The Crossroads STEM Kit Exchange aims to support regional talent pipeline needs by inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders and learners.
A nod to Terre Haute's nickname as the "Crossroads of America," the name of the project symbolizes the intersection and connection among Rose-Hulman, community partners, and industry partners. Designed in collaboration with several stakeholders, including North American Lighting, the Terre Haute Children's Museum, and the 14th and Chestnut Community Center in Terre Haute, the project is a step toward building a stronger STEM community identity.
"Our project seeks to bring meaningful STEM activities to children in community spaces outside of their schools," said Rose-Hulman Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Rebecca Bercich, PhD. "This will address several barriers to STEM engagement and mentorship."
Mueller serves as principal investigator on the grant, with support from Bercich; Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Kelley Dugan, PhD; Associate Dean of Professional Development and Professor of English Rich House, PhD; and Chief Director of Institutional Research, Planning, and Assessment and Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering Matt Lovell, PhD.
Rose-Hulman faculty and students, in conjunction with community and industry partner representatives, created the original pitch at the Community Engaged Alliance's Idea2Action September 2025 event, where they received actionable feedback and strong encouragement to continue pursuing this project. Students Jorge Luis Sol Casas, Jayne McCormack, Beej Bowling, and Stevie Irvine, co-authored and delivered this pitch.
In addition to providing quality educational materials to youth, the project also seeks to increase Rose-Hulman students' understanding of community context and civic identity. First-year mechanical engineering students in select sections of the Introduction to Design course will create the STEM education kits.
"How do you know if you know something? You can explain it clearly to someone younger than you," said Bercich. "It also trains (Rose-Hulman students) in audience analysis, empathy, and adapting to non-technical audiences."
By design, the Crossroads STEM Kit Exchange seeks to be more grounded in its community than existing STEM educational materials. Throughout the design process, the Rose-Hulman students will work in conjunction with an industry partner, such as North American Lighting, to develop hands-on activities that reflect authentic industry practice, as well as with the Terre Haute Children's Museum to ensure age-appropriate interactivity.
Faculty and student volunteers will facilitate the STEM kit modules over the summer at Terre Haute's 14th & Chestnut Community Center, which provides afterschool and summer programming in a safe space for children in historically underserved neighborhoods.
"For some students, it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spark an interest or learn more," said Connor Scanlon, director of the 14th and Chestnut Center. "(It's a) really good opportunity or experience that they are not going to have anywhere else."
Three of the most prevalent barriers to accessing STEM education include transportation, expertise, and resources, including both time and funding. The Crossroads STEM Kit Exchange seeks to overcome those barriers by meeting students at a community location they already visit, connecting local industries and universities to underserved neighborhoods, and volunteering student and faculty time to make a difference in the community.
The Crossroads STEM Kit Exchange positions Rose-Hulman and Terre Haute as a nexus of curiosity and innovation, building and leveraging knowledge and partnerships across the community for mutual growth.