The Directorship of ESU's STEM outreach programs listed below is housed in the Department of Mathematics and Economics. STEM faculty from the Departments of Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Nursing contribute the time and effort it takes to put on such programs along with the Mathematics and Economics faculty. Each program is held at a different time of year and focuses on a different subset of students, but all of them have the same primary goal: to excite and enhance students' minds in the subjects of mathematics and science.

MATH DAY

A friendly math competition for high school students across the state of Kansas.

INSPIRED BY MATH

Inspired By Math is a math enrichment, STEM outreach program for 6th-8th grade students in the Emporia area. The program consists of two components for students to participate in during the year.

ENHANCING YOUR FUTURE WITH MATHEMATICS & SCIENCE (EYF)

When: Wednesday March 5, 2025
Where: Emporia State University Campus
Cost: Students-$35, Adults-$40

Funded by a special request to the Kansas Legislature.

Every year, 220 young women in grades 6 through 8 from the state of Kansas come to Emporia State University to take part in Enhancing Your Future With Mathematics and Science. This STEM outreach program is held every year on the first Saturday in March. Approximately 50 female professionals from the state of Kansas volunteer their time every year to make the event a success.

During the day, students participate in career discussions and hands-on workshops led by female professionals in science and mathematics careers. Students choose from an extensive list of career discussion sessions such as Mathematics Professor: More than Numbers; Dentist: Drills, Frills and other Thrills; Field Biologist: Cool Girls Play in the Mud; and Volcanologist: An Exploding Good Time. The hands-on workshop session topics are also extensive, including It’s a Zoo Out There; What’s Up Doc?; Getting Into the Game; and Let’s Take Flight.

Students hear presentations from two speakers, one at the opening ceremony and the other after the luncheon. All participants receive an Enhancing Your Future t-shirt designed specifically for the conference at the end of the day.

Parents and teachers are encouraged to attend this event as well. The concurrent adult program includes separate sessions where the focus is on learning strategies for encouraging young women to pursue careers in science and mathematics as well as observe the hands-on workshops.

Emporia State University celebrated 25 years of hosting EYF in 2019 and is the first university in the state to offer such a program. EYF has acquired such a reputation that the 220 spots are often filled before the registration deadline, so register as soon as possible. We are no longer limiting the number of registrations per school. On-site registrations will not be accepted; you must preregister.

For more information about the program, contact the School of Science & Mathematics at Emporia State University at 620-341-5281.

MASTER-IT!

When: June 3-7, 2024
Where: Emporia State University

Master-IT! is a week-long, residential summer program held every year in June. Sixteen young women spend a week on the Emporia State University's campus to enjoy some science, mathematics, and fun. Students explore STEM subjects throughout the program. This week-long format allows for projects, field trips and social events that our day-long programs can’t provide. Students also form more meaningful relationships with the other participants and organizers than in other programs because of the extra time spent together.

Undergraduate mathematics or science majors from ESU serve as mentors and resident hall counselors for the students attending. Outside speakers are brought in throughout the week to help explore a wide range of STEM topics. It is a very rewarding outreach program for both the young women who attend and the organizers. The participants are invited to return to campus the following year for ESU’s spring Enhancing Your Future conference free of charge.

Preference is given to those who have not previously attended. On-site registrations will not be accepted; you must pre-register.

For more information about Master-IT!, contact the School of Science & Mathematics at 620-341-5281.

Registration for 2024 is now closed.

SONIA KOVALEVSKY MATHEMATICS DAY

When: February 13, 2025 | 8:00AM - 2:15PM
Where: Emporia State University Memorial Union

Funded by a grant from Evergy

Each February, approximately 60 young women in their junior year of high school, along with their mathematics teachers, come to Emporia State University to participate in Sonia Kovalevsky Mathematics Day. The program is a celebration of the students’ accomplishments in mathematics and of Kovalevsky, the first recognized female with a Ph. D. to make significant contributions to the field of mathematics before the 20th century.

All high schools within a 50-mile radius surrounding Emporia are invited to select up to five young women who have excelled in mathematics in the classroom to attend. The program begins with a overview about Kovalevsky and ends with a reception where participants receive a certificate of recognition. Students attend career speaker presentations and workshops during the day, led by women professionals in mathematics-based occupations.

The Department of Mathematics and Economics at Emporia State University celebrated 25 years of participation in this program in 2019.

For more information about the program, contact the School of Science & Mathematics at Emporia State University at 620-341-5281.

MATH & SCIENCE FAMILY NIGHT

Programs Specifics Coming Soon

Each year, both the Teaching Middle and Secondary Mathematics & Teaching Middle and Secondary Science classes take the Math & Science Family Night program to Emporia Middle School. Middle school students and their parents wind through the hallways of the school to take part in different stations prepared by ESU’s math & science education majors. Each year has a different theme, and the activities at each station reflect the year’s theme in some way. Previous themes have included: EMS CSI, Mathematics Family Feud, The Amazing Race, and Space.

EMS students are also entered into a raffle drawing and many receive prizes throughout the night. The program is held in late February or early March.