Community STEM Day aims to make science, technology, engineering, math accessible for all

Event geared towards K-12 students

This story first appeared in STEM in Iowa 2025, an annual special section distributed in The Gazette that provides an in-depth look at how this educational pathway is having an impact in the classroom as well as in future workforce pipelines.

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Creating a fun, science-focused event for the community to enjoy is one of the many things senior principal engineer, co-founder and co-chair of Community STEM Day Mandy Dodd does to make STEM accessible for all.

Dodd has been an engineer at Collins Aerospace for 17 years and is “one of the many STEM champions here at the Cedar Rapids site,” she said.

Community STEM Day will make its third debut this summer from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, July 17, at Collins Aerospace, 400 Collins Rd. NE. The event is free and open to the public.

The event is primarily geared toward K-12 students, but all ages are encouraged to attend. This year will include more than 70 contributors that’ll highlight science, engineering, technology and math. Additionally, there will be food trucks, music from School of Rock and more.

“[The event] will include a wide variety of deep dive workshops highlighting several engineering as well as technical skills and fields,” Dodd said.

Booths and interactives will include the Cedar Rapids Police Department, University of Iowa’s medical simulation, Iowa PBS, Marion Public Library, St. Luke’s lifeguard air ambulance medical helicopter and more.

Event goers can also participate in workshops that’ll last from 40-70 minutes. Hands-on learning activities include creating your own light-up greeting cards, robot building, creating a BMX bike, prosthetic hand building and other learning experiences. A few of these activities will give back to the community, including the BMX bikes, which will be donated to the local library, and the prosthetic hands will be donated to children who need them.

There will also be tours of the Collins Aerospace labs. Participants can get a look into aviation technology in the concept flight deck, F-35 helmet mounted display and a couple other featured technology materials within the labs.

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In previous years, the free public event has seen more than 60 booths and interactives, 20 food trucks and more than 2,500 people in attendance. Event organizers are hoping to see as much, if not more of a turnout for the upcoming festivities.

Dodd and Tiffany Dauge, co-organizer of STEM Day, are excited for everyone to see the market style event. “It’ll be a STEM-tastic experience,” Dodd said.

Dodd said she loves seeing everyone learn that STEM isn’t just science or math within the classroom, but can be seen everywhere, anytime.

“I like seeing the parents of kids going ‘wow, this really is more than I thought,’” she said.

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With all her hard work throughout the years, Dodd has been highlighted for her work in making an interactive and engaging event. By planning and providing an experience for all ages, it has landed her the title of one of The Gazette’s HER Women of Achievement honorees. HER Women of Achievement is an annual program that honors women who “are leading, inspiring and creating positive change in Eastern Iowa.”

“It was an absolute shock to me,” Dodd said.

Dodd is humble and notes that she is not the only one putting in the work for Community STEM Day. Many people contribute to hosting the event, and Dodd hopes everyone who worked on this project can receive just as much recognition.

“She does such great work and deserves the recognition,” Dauge said.

Registration is currently open for the tours. Those wishing to take a tour or engage in a workshop should register for that portion of the event as soon as possible, as spots fill up quickly. Registration information will also include age limit requirements for each activity.

Organizers encourage newcomers to bring walking shoes. More information about the event can be found at iowastem.org/stem-festivals.