About the STEM Mentor Program

Since 2001, the STEM Mentors program has been connecting talented teachers and robotics coaches with experienced STEM professionals to support experiential—hands-on, minds-on— curriculum in the classroom. This program is committed to matching local STEM professionals to elementary, middle, and high schools to connect what the students are learning in the classroom and on their robotics teams to the real world. Becoming a STEM Mentor is a great opportunity to ensure all Indiana students know someone in a STEM career.

It is important to break down barriers and stereotypes of what a STEM professional is and this program provides students exclusive access to the mind of a STEM mentor who can share their life experience, and inspire students to see themselves as a STEM professional.

Becoming a STEM Mentor gives you a THREE ways to volunteer:

1. Offer your STEM knowledge by volunteering at least once a month during classroom instruction.

2. Assist robotics teams with their engineering and coding skills during robotic team practices after school.

3. Volunteer one time as a classroom speaker or for robot events help.

Sarah, Product Designer
STEM Mentor since 2023

Caleb, Biomedical Engineering Student
STEM Mentor since 2024

Steven, Information Systems
STEM Mentor since 2015

Mentoring can empower students to pursue their interests in STEM. Some of the benefits of successful mentoring include*:

1. Helping eliminate students’ stereotypes about who can succeed in STEM

2. improving attitudes and decreases anxiety around STEM subjects.

3. Supporting improvements in social, emotional, and behavioral health

4. improving STEM-related grades/test scores

5. Increasing enrollment and persistence in post-secondary STEM courses

Research indicates that the consistent, enduring presence of a caring adult in a young person’s life can be the difference between staying in school or dropping out, making healthy decisions or engaging in risky behaviors, and realizing one’s potential or failing to achieve one’s dreams.

*Afterschool Matters, Making and Mentors

In the Classroom

STEM Mentors work one-on-one with a teacher for at least 1 hour per month to help connect what is being taught in the classroom to STEM careers. Mentors work with teachers to provide in-person classroom engagement, as well as hands-on STEM learning activities. 

After School Robotics

TechPoint Foundation for Youth is most known for our efforts in helping start robotics teams throughout the state of Indiana. Our impact has greatly increased the interest in after school robotics programs and we are now looking for volunteers to help support teachers with technical knowledge as well as serve as a mentor to students! With the leadership of teachers and coaches, you will provide coding, building, mechanical and problem solving support to local teams in an after school setting. 

One-Time Support

Looking to get involved but can’t commit to ongoing volunteer work? Teams still need support as they host local robotics events, and classrooms still need your support with guest speakers. Just register with us and let us know you are available for a one-time opportunity.