We are excited to announce a new partnership with the North Dakota State University College of Engineering that will expand hands-on STEM learning opportunities for K–12 students across the state.
Years in the making, and growing out of shared goals, NDGTS and NDSU will work together to bring high-quality engineering and technology education to more North Dakota students. Thanks to the New Horizons grant funded by the State of North Dakota, that vision is now a reality. The partnership is funded through June 2027.
Expanding Engineering and Precision Agriculture Education
Through the New Horizons grant, NDSU’s College of Engineering has hired a full-time STEM Educator who will work closely with NDGTS STEM Education Specialist, Hope Burdolski, and Angela Gross, Outreach Coordinator for the NDSU College of Engineering. Together, the team will lead coordinated outreach efforts across the state—serving Eastern North Dakota through NDSU and Western North Dakota through NDGTS.
The partnership focuses on developing co-branded, hands-on curriculum centered on engineering and precision agriculture for K–12 students, with a particular emphasis on middle and high school learners. North Dakota is a national leader in agricultural innovation, integrating advanced technology into modern farming practices, and this collaboration highlights the real-world applications of engineering and technology happening right here in our state.
New STEMzone Kits and Mobile Outreach
A key component of the partnership is the development of new STEMzone kits focused on engineering, precision agriculture, robotics, coding, and emerging technologies. These kits are designed to offer a specialized, career-connected learning experience, with each kit highlighting engineering concepts, real-world problem-solving, and career pathways in these growing fields.
The kits and curriculum will be delivered through NDGTS’s Gateway to Science on the Go mobile outreach program, helping ensure students in rural and underserved communities have access to high-quality STEM experiences.
Development is already underway, and the team is eager to begin reaching classrooms across North Dakota with this new curriculum in Spring 2026.
Formalizing the Collaboration
On January 12, 2026, NDSU and North Dakota’s Gateway to Science formally marked the partnership with a ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at NDGTS in Bismarck.
“NDSU is proud to collaborate with Gateway to Science to connect classroom learning with real-world applications,” said Alan Kallmeyer, Dean of the NDSU College of Engineering. “These experiences will help students see the possibilities in engineering and technology and encourage them to pursue careers that strengthen our state’s workforce.”
Beth Demke, CEO of North Dakota’s Gateway to Science, emphasized the shared mission behind the partnership. “This partnership reflects our commitment to making STEM education accessible to every student in North Dakota. By combining our mobile outreach capabilities with NDSU’s academic strengths, we can bring engaging, hands-on learning to classrooms across the state.”
Looking Ahead
Together, NDGTS and NDSU’s College of Engineering are building a collaborative model that connects education, innovation, and workforce development—helping students see themselves in the future of engineering, agriculture, and technology.
Stay tuned for more information about program launch dates and opportunities to participate.