Sheridan, WY – The Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum announced on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse that it will host a special NASA STEM dinner on Saturday, Sept. 12. Museum Director Sylvia Bruner and Dr. Shawna McBride, Director of University of Wyoming Research Development and NASA STEM Engagement, highlighted the event as a unique opportunity for local families, students, and educators to connect with NASA’s work without leaving the state.
Why the dinner matters for Wyoming
Wyoming may seem far from NASA’s major centers, but the museum’s partners emphasized that the state already participates in a variety of NASA projects. “A lot of people wouldn’t imagine that there’s a NASA presence in Wyoming because we’re so far from any of the NASA centers,” Bruner said, “but there’s actually a lot of opportunities right here in Wyoming to get involved in NASA projects.”
Those opportunities include collaborations with the University of Wyoming, community colleges, and extensive K‑12 outreach programs. Dr. McBride explained that the university’s research development office works closely with students to provide internships, research experiences, and mentorship that can lead to careers in aerospace, engineering, and related fields.
Event details
The dinner will be catered on site and feature a short program where NASA representatives will discuss current missions, upcoming research initiatives, and pathways for Wyoming youth to join the agency’s workforce. Attendees will also have a chance to ask questions and receive information about scholarships, internships, and local STEM clubs.
Tickets are being sold through the museum’s website, and a portion of the proceeds will support the museum’s ongoing educational programs. “We want to make this accessible to as many families as possible,” Bruner added, noting that discounted tickets are available for students and low‑income households.
Community response
Local parents and educators expressed enthusiasm for the event. “Having NASA come to Sheridan shows our kids that they don’t have to leave home to pursue big dreams,” said Maria Lopez, a parent of two high‑schoolers who plans to attend. The museum’s outreach coordinator, Tom Henderson, said the dinner aligns with the museum’s mission to inspire curiosity and lifelong learning.
Wyoming’s congressional delegation has long supported STEM initiatives that bolster the state’s workforce. While the dinner is a local effort, it reflects broader federal encouragement for rural participation in space exploration.
How to get involved
Anyone interested in attending can purchase tickets at www.jimgatchellmuseum.org/events. The museum also invites volunteers to help with setup, registration, and post‑event clean‑up. For families looking for ongoing STEM activities, the museum offers weekly workshops, summer camps, and a rotating exhibit series that highlights science, technology, engineering, and mathematics topics.
As Dr. McBride noted, exposure to NASA’s work at an early age can spark a lifelong passion for discovery. “We hope this dinner will inspire the next generation of Wyoming engineers, scientists, and explorers,” she said.
Looking ahead
The Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum plans to host additional STEM‑focused events throughout the year, including a robotics showcase in the fall and a space‑science lecture series in the winter. These programs aim to keep Wyoming’s youth connected to national scientific endeavors while reinforcing the state’s tradition of self‑reliance and innovation.
Original reporting: Sheridan Media (Sheridan WY) — read the source article.
