NDeavor has been awarded an FY26 ND EPSCoR STEM Outreach Activities grant to support the NDeavor Workshop Series: Innovation Studio 101 and Robotics for Educators, a hands-on professional development initiative designed to strengthen STEM education statewide.
The grant funds a two-part workshop series hosted at the NDeavor Innovation Studio in Fargo, providing middle and high school educators with practical, classroom-ready training in digital fabrication and competitive robotics. The program addresses a critical gap in K–12 STEM education by expanding educator access to advanced tools, applied learning environments, and sustainable program models.
The first workshop, Innovation Studio 101, focuses on digital fabrication skills educators can directly replicate in their classrooms. Participants receive hands-on training with 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers, and electronics tools, and leave with lesson plans, safety guides, and reusable project files aligned with typical school equipment.
The second workshop, Robotics for Educators: FIRST Tech Challenge, introduces educators to competitive robotics through a reverse-mentorship model led by university robotics students. Participants build and program a robot chassis, design and fabricate custom components, and complete a capstone challenge modeled after real-world robotics competitions.
“This investment allows us to immerse educators in a real-world innovation environment,” said Brenda Wyland, CEO of NDeavor. “That experience translates directly into stronger STEM instruction and clearer pathways from the classroom to technical careers.”
The program is expected to train 20–30 educators across North Dakota during FY26, with an estimated reach of more than 1,500 students through classroom implementation and robotics team participation. A subset of educators will receive additional support to launch or strengthen robotics programs in their schools.
The workshops align with the ND EPSCoR mission and the North Dakota Science and Technology Plan by strengthening the STEM pipeline from K–12 through higher education, expanding access to high-impact learning opportunities, and supporting workforce development in critical technical fields.
Workshops will be hosted at NDeavor’s Innovation Studio in Fargo during FY26, with participation open to educators from rural, urban, and underserved districts across the state.
About NDeavor
NDeavor is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit tech park in Fargo, North Dakota, serving as an engineering and prototyping foundry built to translate research into deployable, field-validated systems. Through applied learning environments, industry partnerships, and workforce-focused programming, NDeavor accelerates dual-use innovation and supports entrepreneurs through its 8,000-square-foot Innovation Studio and startup incubator.
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Link: ND EPSCoR News Release