[March 20, 2024, St. Paul, MN] – Innovative hypotheses and technologies will not be the only novel aspects of the upcoming 87th Annual Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair (MSSEF). The event is also welcoming a new Premier Sponsor, Medtronic, a company known for groundbreaking healthcare technology solutions. As the long-standing annual event’s new Premier Sponsor, Medtronic will play an essential role in enabling more than 300 middle and high school students from across Minnesota to gather in person in St. Paul on March 22 to share their research, network, and compete for valuable awards and unique opportunities.
After learning in the summer of 2023 that the State Science Fair’s organizer, the Minnesota Academy of Science (MAS), was seeking a new Premier Sponsor, several Medtronic Technical Fellows mobilized. They led an internal effort to ensure the prestigious event would continue in person in 2024 with support from Medtronic.
“I’ve been a Science Fair judge for the past decade, during which I’ve met lots of Minnesota’s best and brightest students. Their creativity, innovation, and drive inspired me to recruit volunteers and campaign for financial support,” said Kelly Coleman, a Medtronic Technical Fellow who advocates for the company’s partnership with the State Science Fair. “By supporting the Science Fair, and other STEM Outreach initiatives, we are aligning to multiple tenets of our Medtronic Mission to support community programs, engage and develop employees as volunteers, and encourage the young people to consider STEM careers to build a pipeline of diverse technical talent.”
Medtronic’s new sponsorship is facilitated through both their Technical Fellows and their Global Tech & Innovation Sustainability Development programs. However, Medtronic employees have a long history of engagement in the statewide event and other MAS STEM programs. Last year, 15 Medtronic employees served as volunteer judges at the State Science Fair, interviewing students about their projects, providing encouragement, and determining award winners. Medtronic employees have also volunteered at the Minnesota Science Bowls, provided pro bono expertise through consulting sprints, and delivered the keynote address at the 2023 Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium.
“Medtronic and its employees have a long history of supporting the next generation of problem solvers,” said Lara Maupin, MAS Executive Director. “We are so thankful Medtronic has taken on the role of Premier Sponsor, opening a new and exciting chapter in our relationship. By making sure Minnesota’s student researchers have a state-level opportunity for recognition, Medtronic is providing vital support for our entire statewide system of school and regional fairs that feed into the State Science Fair.”
As part of their Premier Sponsorship, Medtronic will offer participating students several new prizes and awards, including the Medtronic Innovation Award and the Medtronic Technical Achievement Award, awarded in the categories of Biomedical, Science & Engineering, and Sustainability. Award winners will be announced on March 22 at the St. Paul RiverCentre and posted on mnmas.org.
