As Lehigh's STEM Squad hits the streets of Bethlehem to take part in the city's 2025 Musikfest, it is proud to announce expanded support from two of the University's partners in the community, thanks to new funding from the Bosch Community Fund and B. Braun Medical Inc. (B Braun). These investments will enhance STEM outreach across the Lehigh Valley and provide transformative, hands-on learning opportunities for K–12 students throughout the region.
STEM Squad brings Lehigh engineering students into local schools, and local schools to Lehigh, to co-create and deliver standards-aligned STEM programming—from lesson plans and classroom activities to real-time demonstrations. The initiative is designed to help teachers enrich their science and math instruction and inspire students through engaging, age-appropriate explorations in robotics, energy, materials science, biomedical engineering, and more.
The Bosch Community Fund, the corporate foundation for Bosch in North America, promotes the enrichment of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and advancing environmental sustainability initiatives.
B. Braun, a global leader in medical technology with U.S. headquarters in the Lehigh Valley, supports initiatives that promote health, safety, education and workforce development. The company has long invested in programs that strengthen local schools and broaden access to STEM career pathways, particularly for underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students.
"We are deeply grateful to the Bosch Community Fund and B. Braun for their generous support of the STEM Squad," said Chayah Wilbers, program manager for Lehigh's Rossin College and director of the initiative. "Both organizations share our vision that sparking interest in STEM at a young age can open doors to educational and career opportunities later in life. Their commitment will allow us to reach more classrooms, train more Lehigh students as STEM mentors, and build stronger partnerships with teachers across the Lehigh Valley and beyond."
The new funding will support curriculum development, outreach logistics, transportation, classroom supplies, and training workshops for Lehigh student volunteers. In the 2025-26 school year, the STEM Squad aims to serve more than 50 classrooms, with a focus on Title I schools and districts with limited access to STEM enrichment resources.
Lehigh engineering students involved in STEM Squad receive mentorship from faculty, training in science pedagogy, and real-world experience in community engagement. The program also supports Lehigh's broader institutional goals of equity, access, and service through experiential learning.
"This kind of partnership is what community-based engineering looks like," said Wilbers. "Our students aren't just learning—they're helping others learn, too. And with the help of forward-thinking companies like the Bosch Community Fund and B. Braun, we're building a regional model of inclusive STEM education."
Teachers interested in partnering with the STEM Squad, and students who want to get involved, can learn more at engineering.lehigh.edu/stem-squad.
