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STEM YEA 2026
STEM YEA is a four-day, three-night immersive, residential STEM-focused Academy providing equitable opportunities for students entering eighth grade the following school year. The Academy delves into intriguing STEM areas while inspiring and engaging the students. These young people and their parents may not otherwise have such an opportunity. The program, sponsored by Rotary Clubs in District 7430, was held at Kutztown University in Kutztown, PA, from July 9 through 12, 2026. The theme was "Astrobiology: the Search for Life on Mars."
Sixty-four students completed the four-day event. The 31 female and 33 male students attended 36 public, parochial, and charter middle schools. There were no accidents or injuries. Twenty-five District 7430 Rotary Clubs sponsored students for STEM YEA 2026. Students received STEM YEA T-shirts, backpacks, journaling manuals, pens, and copies of the SETI session curriculum manual. Michael Seidner, MD, led a special ceremony to present white lab coats to the students. Coats were donated by Rolf Schlake, PhD, a member of the STEM YEA team. Students had lanyards with keys for Kutztown University dorm rooms, electronic swipers for the KU Dining Hall, and color-coded name badges.
Housing & Meals
Students are accompanied by volunteers at all times, and enjoyed being on a college campus with extensive resources.
Students, overnight monitors, interns, and some volunteers were housed in the Golden Bear Village South air-conditioned dorms. All meals were taken at the South Dining Hall. Jason Garcia, Director of External Events, Kutztown Conference Services, and his team of KU students provided round-the-clock service and support.
Curriculum
Eight STEM sessions, in addition to project building, team building, and Rotary informational sessions, were held over the four days. Students built models of Mars habitats from recyclable materials. The habitats were displayed at the Al Engel Science Fair before the Sunday afternoon Celebration Dinner.
Dr. Anthony (Tony) Moyer, former principal of Willow Lane School, served as the Director for STEM YEA 2026. Five certified teachers engaged and instructed STEM YEA students during the event. Seven interns who attended the 2025 RYLA Camp Neidig assisted the teachers and the volunteers.
On Thursday evening, students visited the Grim Planetarium to see "One Step Beyond, A Journey to Mars," which was facilitated by Fallon Smith, a KU student intern of Dr. Phil Reed.
After that session, Tom Power and Chris Hornaman of Engineers Without Borders Lehigh Valley Professionals (EWB-LVP) described an EWB-LVP-supported solar panel project in Sierra Leone. The students did a hands-on activity with mini solar panels using LED bulbs as the "sun." By changing the angle of the panel relative to the "sun," students were able to observe the change in the voltage output of the solar panel. On Friday evening, Reading Hospital (Tower Health) employees Jennifer Barney, Injury Prevention Outreach Coordinator, and Teena Lee, Violence Recovery Program Supervisor, presented CPR, Stop the Bleed, and bicycle safety classes. Academy nurse Sue Hite built first-aid kits with the students. Kutztown University professors worked with the students on Saturday evening. Dr. Dan Blanchard's session included making jet fuel, shooting off rockets, and learning how to transport people to Mars. Dr. Kurt Friehauf's session used an electron microscope to compare Earth geology to Mars geology. Maria Clark and Liz Delarosa, KU Jet Propulsion Lab interns, helped students plan a safe route for the Mars Rover, while also collecting rock samples. Gabriella DeMarco and Abe Friehauf had students use ground-penetrating radar (GPR) equipment and then look at GPR results from Mars. Dr. Laura Sherrod provided the equipment.
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DISTRICT 7430 ROTARY VOLUNTEERS
Forty volunteers monitored students overnight in the dorms and engaged with students during the daytime sessions. Volunteers dined with students and enjoyed working with them in the labs and during team-building activities. Students were divided into four groups and always accompanied by adult leaders, who assembled them for meals and escorted them to the dining hall, academic buildings, and dorms.
Rotary volunteers spent the week working alongside students in the labs, at meals, and during team-building activities.
Media Recognition
Berks Weekly
Rotary STEM academy at Kutztown University gives middle school students hands-on learning experience
BCTV
2026 Rotary District 7430 STEM Youth Explorers Academy
Fun Facts
Two hundred forty students, parents, grandparents, volunteers, sponsors/donors, and Rotary District 7430 leaders attended the Celebration Dinner held at the university on Sunday afternoon. Students were presented with Certificates of Completion and class photos. Dr. Amir Famili provided the opening remarks. Dr. Laurie McMillan, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, addressed the audience about her educational journey and discussed the opportunities available at Kutztown University. Scholarship information was provided by Michael Seidner, MD. The first award will be presented at the STEM YEA 2027 Celebration Dinner. Many sponsoring Rotary Clubs have invited STEM YEA students to attend and speak at Rotary Club meetings. Parents often attend and provide thank-yous and favorable comments about the STEM YEA experience.
Please join us in sponsoring STEM YEA 2027, scheduled for summer 2027. This may be the only opportunity for these students and their parents to participate in a program that builds STEM-focused future citizens.
STEM YEA Chairman Dr. Amir Famili delivers an inspiring address to students, families, and volunteers at the Celebration Dinner.