31-01-2025
Black History Month STEM display returns to Exploration Place
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Exploration Place is again partnering with The Kansas African-American Museum to present an outdoor display honoring African-American scientists and STEM leaders.
The giant portraits can be viewed from the path along the Arkansas River or from inside Exploration Place on Thursday nights when it is open until 8 p.m. Admission will not be required to view the display from the promenade.
Each week, the display will feature a photo, name, and a QR code that can be scanned to learn more about the STEM leaders and what they do. This year, each honoree has a connection to Wichita.
'This is our fourth year for this project, and our building is a great canvas for celebrating African-Americans' accomplishments in STEM fields,' said Adam Smith, Exploration Place President and CEO, in a news release. 'We've featured scientists from across history previously, but this year, we decided to focus on contemporary leaders connected specifically to Wichita.'
Amy Williams, interim executive director of The Kansas African American Museum, added that, 'We are incredibly proud to recognize each of these Kansas STEM Trailblazers and hope this display serves as a spark of inspiration for the next generation in our community.'
Annual Home Show underway at Century II
This year's honorees are:
Week 1: Roy Moye III, a trained aerospace engineer who is also a Grammy-nominated urban gospel singer, community leader and founder of STEMusic, combines music and STEM to reach diverse students.
Week 2: Sisters Deborah Gladney and Angela Muhwezi-Hall, the creators and founders of WorkTorch. This hiring platform connects job seekers to service and skilled trade jobs in Wichita and the Kansas City area.
Week 3: Dr. Larry Mitnaul, a dual board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist practicing in Wichita. His work takes a unique approach to community health by using technology, creativity and music to help connect with patients.
Week 4: Lakesha Bates, a Wichita native who is a leading engineer and technical branch head at NASA in-flight systems integration and testing, earning her multiple technical and supervisory awards.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
