The College of Applied Science and Technology recently hosted a successful week of virtual and in-person events celebrating advancements in the field of science and technology, and students and professionals who make everything possible.

The week started off with a volunteer opportunity at Midwest Food Bank, where CAST students, faculty, and staff joined others from the across the university to spend time working on an in-person civic engagement activity, making an impact by packaging nearly 1500 bags of food at the local facility.

The second day in the week of events featured a keynote address from Margot Lee Shetterly, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Hidden Figures, which tells the story of the black women mathematicians at NASA who helped to drive some of the nation’s greatest achievements in space. The keynote address was held virtually, and attendees enjoyed the opportunity to ask Shetterly questions in a Q&A session toward the end.

The middle of the week consisted of a series of events, including a virtual talk and cooking demonstration from Chef Sean Sherman, who shared his experience of discovering and reimagining Indigenous cuisine.

Toward the end of the week, CAST celebrated some its high achieving younger alumni during the Academy of Achievement (AOA) induction ceremony. The hybrid event was held with attendees participating via Zoom and in-person at the Bone Student Center, to recognize alumni who are inspiring, hardworking leaders in their fields.

On the final day of the week, CAST hosted the Women in Leadership conference virtually, where students, faculty, alumni, and professionals from various fields came together to connect for great conversations on career success, networking, and effective goal setting. The guest speakers at the event included keynote speaker Dr. Cara Rabe-Hemp, CAST’s associate dean, Stefanie McLeese, a public relations and communications strategist, and Christina Schulz, associate director of business and industry solutions at Heartland Community College.

CAST would like to thank the students, alumni, faculty, and professionals who attended these events to make the week so successful, and is already looking forward to next year’s Science and Technology week.

For more information on Science and Technology Week, programs, or majors in the College of Science and Technology, visit the website here.