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STEM Innovation AwardPresented in partnership with the Science Museum of Minnesota |
Hoover Elementary School Biomedical, Health Sciences and Engineering has been named the 2026 recipient of the MESPA STEM Innovation Award, presented in partnership with the Science Museum of Minnesota. Empowered by Principal Minh Strusz's leadership, Hoover’s fourth graders connected STEM learning to real-world impact by partnering with the American Red Cross to plan and support a community blood drive. The initiative exemplifies how STEM education can come alive when rooted in real-world purpose—showing students that science has the power to save lives and that they meaningfully contribute to their community. Congratulations Hoover Elementary!
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| The STEM Innovation Award is presented in partnership with MESPA and the Science Museum of Minnesota. The new award gives principals the opportunity to share innovative programs and/or projects in their schools. Submitted applications become part of MESPA's STEM Innovation Database, available to MESPA members, helping schools across the state replicate their colleagues’ successes. The Science Museum of Minnesota will provide $600 of programming to the award winner and the recipient will be recognized at MESPA Institute awards banquet – The MESPYs – in February. |
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Timeline
Deadline dates are the same each year. Watch out for dates landing on weekends.
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Nomination
Judging Criteria
- 25% Impact on School Community
- 25% Replicable
- 25% Inclusive and supports diversity
- 25% Sustainable and/or has potential for growth
FAQs
Who can apply for the award? Any Active Level MESPA Member may apply for the STEM Innovation Award. You do not have to be nominated to apply.
Where is the application? Since STEM Innovation programs and projects can be varied, we didn't want to limit it to a uniform application. Please see "What to Include in the Application" and "Judging Criteria" in the Application Guidelines for specifics.
How do I submit the application? Email it to mespa@mespa.net
Can my school submit more than one innovative program/project for consideration? No, schools can only submit one innovate program/project per year.
What type of STEM Innovations can be submitted? Any sustainable and/or growth-oriented program/project that encourages and celebrates STEM literacy can be submitted for consideration. See past applications in the STEM Innovation Database. Some examples are:
- New learning opportunities for students
- Different and innovative STEM teaching methods
- Different and innovative forms of measuring STEM outcomes
- STEM professional development and coaching opportunities for educators
- In-School or Out-of-School STEM experience(s) for students
- Engaging families or community partners in STEM curriculum
Recent History |
2025 Award Recipient: Pilot Knobb Elementary School.png)
Pilot Knob STEM Magnet School (ISD 197) has been named a recipient of MESPA’s STEM Innovation Award, presented in partnership with the Science Museum of Minnesota. The award recognizes the school’s innovative integration of Native American perspectives into STEM learning by exploring the history and stewardship of the land. Through hands-on, interdisciplinary experiences—including family mapping events, an Indigenous People’s Day walk, and staff professional development—students connect science standards with Indigenous knowledge, environmental stewardship, and cultural understanding. Pilot Knob’s work serves as a powerful model for inclusive, place-based STEM education across Minnesota.
2024 Award Recipient: Central Park Elementary School
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Central Park Elementary School's STEM Innovation was their Spark Lab, a transformative initiative to engage and inspire its diverse student body through STEM education. What made this project stand out was it's district-wide impact that could be measured beyond the elementary school into students' high school education.
2023 Award Recipient: Eagle View Elementary School
| 2021 Eagle View Elementary School launched a new environmentally focused STEM (E-STEM) program for all K-4 students. During E-STEM, students participated in lessons based on the new Minnesota State Science Standards which involves inquiry-centered learning that can take place in the indoor lab, outdoor nature center, and surrounding forest, trails, and lake. Through grants and donations, Eagle View Elementary built a yurt, which provides a sheltered meeting space in the nature center. One example of a 4th-grade lesson was learning about the benefits of pollinators, how to identify different pollinators, then observing and collecting data in their school gardens. Students identified and counted the pollinators they found, recorded what kind of plant they were found on as well as the color of the flower. They completed the project by graphing what color plants pollinators are most attracted to. Through these types of lessons, the goal is to encourage kids to get excited about learning STEM subjects and build enthusiasm and appreciation for nature with the added benefits of spending time outdoors. The opportunities are endless when it comes to growth for this E-STEM program. Because of the shift in the new Minnesota State Science Standards, along with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) to include science practices, content, and crosscutting concepts, this program is the perfect environment for students to build interest, wonder, and skills for learning about nature and the STEM subjects. The goal for the upcoming year is to continue to build connections between Eagle View and the Pequot Lakes community, providing more unique learning opportunities for our students. |
