Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Experiential STEM Company
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As: ESTEM
Mailing Address: 5 Chestnut Lane
City: Woodbridge
State: Connecticut
Postal Code: 06525
Main Phone: 203-641-4047
Main Fax: n/a
Organization Website: https://experientialstem.org/
Employer ID Number: 83-2210951
Organization Tax Status: 501c3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/27/2025
Requested Amount: 10,000

Project Title: STEM Industry Professional Development Trips for Connecticut Educators
Project Description:

In the modern landscape where ever-evolving tech changes every industry, students need up-to-date STEM curricula to succeed, but the rapid pace of change is extremely difficult to keep up with at the scale of a school district. If, however, teachers can see and understand industry changes firsthand, they can bring that knowledge to bear on their curricula, improving STEM education at the classroom level. ESTEM will provide an opportunity to do so at no cost to Connecticut educators.

A recent Virginia Tech study provided evidence that K-12 teachers who undertook four-week summer externships at STEM industry workplaces demonstrated improved understanding of the subject matter they teach and commitment to creating learning experiences for their students with real-world context. ESTEM will provide a series of professional development experiences that are comparable in scope, but integrate more smoothly with schools’ and teachers’ schedules.

For each series, ESTEM will partner with a Connecticut school and nearby businesses to facilitate workplace visits for educators. Once a month, for five months, 10–15 teachers will attend a trip to a nearby STEM-focused business and learn how modern tech is applied there. Each site visit will be a visual and interactive endeavor followed by a community discussion and learning session on how to bring this experience back to classrooms. To make this program as accessible as possible, participating teachers will receive a stipend to attend and a meal each visit.

Funding from the Charles & Joan Hermanowski Family Foundation will support the cost of one of these series, which can be scaled down by one or two site visits based on secured funding, lessening the cost by approximately $2,000 per subtracted visit. The Other Funding information below reflects funding for these series in FY2025, and provides an approximate picture of the funding ESTEM will request in FY2026.

Total Project Budget: 12,375

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): The Marjorie Moore Charitable Foundation (12,375 committed), The Glenn W. Bailey Foundation (6,500 committed), The Ensworth Charitable Foundation (12,375 potential), George A. & Grace L. Long Foundation (12,375 potential), The Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation (12,375 potential), SBM Charitable Foundation (12,375 potential)

Project Duration: 1/1/2026 – 12/31/2026
Geographical Area Served: Connecticut
Age Group To Be Served: K-12 students

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mr
Contact First Name: David
Contact Last Name: Conelias
Contact Title: Founder/CEO
Contact Phone: 203-641-4047
Contact Email: dave@experientialstem.org