As space exploration efforts around the world focus more and more on mounting a manned mission to Mars, Xploration Station’s latest #StudentAstronaut contest offers America’s top STEM students the chance to join the action. The contest, now in its third year, allows college students to compete for an all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii to train for a journey to Mars alongside Xploration Outer Space host Emily Calandrelli. Students should apply by posting their video submissions to the Xploration Station Facebook page by Sunday, May 28. Xploration Station is a three-hour block of STEM programming for teens and their families airing weekend mornings primarily on Fox TV Stations in more than 100 million homes nationwide.

Kristen Actis-Grande, vice president, finance for Ingersoll Rand’s Residential HVAC and Supply business was recognized as one of 130 recipients of The Manufacturing Institute’s 2017 Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Award. The STEP Ahead Awards recognize women who demonstrate excellence and leadership in their careers and represent all levels of manufacturing, from the factory-floor to the C-suite.

Just released: Purposeful Partners: Private Sector Solutions to Preparing the Workforce of Tomorrow. Learn how the private sector is playing a role in building tomorrow's workforce. Access the report here.

Three FIRST Robotics teams from the Tri Cities area will compete in the FIRST Robotics World Finals this week, April 26 - 29 in St. Louis, Missouri after competing against 160 other Michigan teams in the State Championships in Grand Rapids recently.

Sixty-four years ago, Congress declared that “The Marine Corps must be the most ready when the nation is generally least ready.” The years since have seen that proven out many times over.

Whirlpool Cleveland employee Melvin Thompson has achieved many successes and he will soon add another accolade to his long list of accomplishments.

After months of researching, designing and developing prototypes, three schools have been named national winners in the $2 million* Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest – a nationwide competition that challenges 6th through 12th graders to use STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) to address real-world problems in their communities.

In February 2016, we announced JetBlue Technology Ventures, a Silicon Valley initiative that incubates, invests in, and partners with early-stage start-ups at the intersection of technology, travel, and hospitality.