A gift of $30 million from the Boeing Company and Mr. and Mrs. William E. Boeing Jr. to the Museum of Flight, in Seattle, is “unprecedented,” the museum announced this week. The money will fund the Boeing Academy for STEM Learning, comprising a variety of programs to promote education in science, technology, engineering and math. The new program aims to double the number of students who will be served by the museum over the next two years — particularly students from communities underrepresented in STEM careers — and connect them to fulfilling, in-demand jobs.
“Jobs related to science, technology, engineering and math represent the future,” said Ray Conner, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, at the announcement event. “But thousands of openings will go unfilled because Washington State doesn’t have enough qualified candidates to fill them. We are confident The Museum of Flight is the perfect partner to help us expand the pipeline of diverse, talented young STEM professionals in Washington and beyond.” The number of students served by the museum’s programs will double by 2017 and double again by 2019.
