The Des Moines SB Program continues to be the largest, with more than 300 SB scholars. Some of the academic and STEM development activities that high school students engaged in during 2018-19 included:
- Research an ASTEM topic of personal interest, and present during oral justifications
- Challenge themselves through summer math programs
- Conduct science experiments and qualify for the State Science Fair at Iowa State;
- Engage in ASTEM career exploration projects to identify careers of personal interest
Middle school students also actively engaged in a variety of hands-on STEM activities, including:
- Participate in summer math program where they were introduced to algebra through the use of manipulatives
- Conduct individual science experiments and present findings during the Nothing Less Than Success Science Fair
- Explore nature and goal setting during an environmental sciences retreat;
- Exercise problem-solving skills through breakout-box challenges