2023 Teacher Awards

Teachers Awards 2023

Attention, innovative educators! Are you passionate about fostering learning through interactive, immersive methods? The STTE Foundation wants to celebrate your visionary approach to teaching with our Teacher Awards initiative!

Envision a future where Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence fuse seamlessly into students’ smart glasses – a reality that’s just around the corner! We’re on a quest to find the most inspiring teaching experiences to incorporate into the metaverse. With the help of STTE and our partners, hologram teachers will be developed to bridge the digital divide and ensure access to quality education for all.

Winning teachers will receive prizes and recognition and have their cutting-edge teaching methods showcased at our LatinX EdTech Summit’s Teacher Awards ceremony on Friday, June 16, 2023, at the Starlight Event Center. Furthermore, winners will be featured in future learning textbooks that will reach mass amounts of students for generations to come!

Ready to participate? Here’s how:

  1. Create a one-minute video demonstrating your innovative lesson.
  2. Upload it to YouTube and send us the link.
  3. Click the submit button to share your lesson with us.

Feel free to submit multiple entries! Submissions will be evaluated based on creativity, engagement, and relevance to your subject matter.

Hurry, the submission deadline is April 30, 2023!

Thank you for your passion and dedication, and best of luck!

LatinX EdTech Summit 2023

The STTE Foundation, EduLab Capital and CREEED will be teaming up to organize a day of Exploration in STEAM, Celebrating Educators and Creating Action as it relates to LatinX in education technology. Advances in technology are radically impacting the education system through innovative platforms that deliver highly-effective experiential and immersive learning. While there is an emergence of innovative Edtech companies, there still remains a lack of access to education resources in underserved Latinos communities specifically in small-sized school districts in rural areas which historically have limited resources.

We are excited to announce our stellar keynote speaker, Dr. Maria Armstrong, Executive Director for the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents. 

The LatinX EdTech Summit is a must-attend event for anyone who wants to stay at the forefront of education technology. Here’s why you won’t want to miss:

  • Superintendents: Network with national leaders and connect with emerging EdTech founders. Discover new strategies and technologies that can help improve student outcomes and drive success.
  • EdTech Founders: Network with leaders in education and connect with decision makers. Get your products and services in front of key influencers in the education space and showcase your solutions to potential partners and investors.
  • Economic Professionals: Discover emerging technologies that can help bridge the digital divide. Help ensure that all students have access to the technology and resources they need to succeed in school and beyond.
  • Education Foundations: Support efforts that steam immediate action that can impact communities. Learn about the latest trends in education technology and discover new ways to support students, teachers, and schools in your community.
  • EdTech Investors: Connect with emerging EdTech companies and experience direct user growth strategies. Discover exciting new investment opportunities and connect with entrepreneurs who are driving innovation in the education space.
  • Principals: Advocate for EdTech solutions for your schools and teachers. Explore the latest trends and advancements in education technology and learn how you can help your school stay ahead of the curve.
  • Education CTO’s and CIO’s: Endorse EdTech solutions that can bridge the digital divide in your domains. Find innovative solutions that can help you overcome common challenges and drive success in your school district.
  • Computer Science Teachers: Learn what solutions can be implemented at your schools impacting learning. Discover new tools and technologies that can help you engage students and drive learning outcomes in your classroom.

Success Through Technology Education (STTE) Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on producing stories that inspire, building a future STEAM workforce, and fostering a startup ecosystem.

Our Mission

To develop and deploy entrepreneurship and STEAM-based educational programs for students and adults that accelerate and advance economic development.

Our Vision

To become a national leader in innovation, entrepreneurship, and STEAM education impacting a globally competitive marketplace.

Our Strategic Goals

  • 100% Digital literacy for youth by 2030
  • Increase Percentage of students going into STEAM Fields
  • Build an entrepreneurial ecosystem through innovative programs, mind setting  products and access to capital opportunities

Entrepreneurship Education in the Metaverse

Sponsored by

0 %
of material is remembered if learned through experience.

Unicorn Academy, the first-ever augmented reality (AR) education program focused on advancing entrepreneurship. 

Unicorn Academy is geared toward students grades 8-12 who are curious about entrepreneurship and want to develop the fundamental skills needed to launch their own businesses. Currently offered in English and Spanish and accessible from anywhere, the course is led by a virtual teacher who guides students on the impact of starting a business utilizing augmented reality.

Launched from a physical textbook, Unicorn Academy includes supplemental AR coursework that immerses students in design thinking and business model canvases from leading brands such as Tesla, Nike, Instagram, and TikTok. Throughout the program, students will learn to create human-centered solutions in AR through a variety of assignments, and ultimately have the opportunity to develop their own AR-based businesses and accompanying marketing content.

There are several key advantages to Unicorn Academy’s book experience. First, personal information protection is essential in the K12 education sector. Therefore, readers need not provide any information to access the education experience. Additionally, the book has no walled gardens and is a fully “web-based interface,” which provides a frictionless user experience, eliminating the barrier to downloading an app to experience learning. Lastly, statistics confirm students remember 90% of the material if it is learned through experience. Thus, readers are introduced to a hologram teacher with the option to select English and Spanish as their preferred languages.

AI Hackathon

0 %
of orgs have increased their AI budgets YOY since 2019

Are you a developer with an interest in creating cutting-edge technology solutions using artificial intelligence? If so, we invite you to join us for the Borderplex Region’s first Open AI Hackathon! This exciting event is sponsored by Microsoft and will take place from March 31st to April 2nd, 2023. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to participate in the education and development of the next generation of problem solvers and developers.

Organized by STTE in collaboration with a council of startups, the hackathon aims to advance regional talent, build industry products, and transform the region by incorporating AI technology into local businesses. The targeted industries for the event are Advanced Manufacturing (with a focus on Logistics), Construction, and Financial Services.

Our esteemed panel of judges includes Alexandra Chavez, Senior Vice President of Bank of America, J.J. Childress, Community Engagement Manager at Microsoft, Duane Murphy, President of Gamer Logistics, and Frank Spencer, President of Aztec Contractors.

We encourage you to participate in the Borderplex Region’s Open AI Hackathon and take advantage of this fantastic opportunity. Get started with OpenAI by creating an account at https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/.

If you want to compete in the Open AI hackathon, select the apply button below, and we will take it from there. As soon as we have more information regarding the hackathon, we will contact individuals that applied to compete.

Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to be a part of the future of AI technology!

The registration deadline is March 24, 2023.

Free AI Tools To Know About

Startup Week at the Pass

Startup Week at the Pass in El Paso, TX and Las Cruces, NM

Attention startup founders and funders! Are you looking to take your business to the next level? Join us for Startup Week at the Pass, a four-day event designed to help entrepreneurs grow and thrive.
Day one, on November 1, 2023, features Fireside Chats with experts in startups and technology, as well as Founders Dinners that connect you with the vibrant southwest startup ecosystem. This is your chance to network with mentors, learn from the best, and build valuable connections that can help you grow your business.
On day two, November 2, 2023, we’re hosting the first-ever Southwest Collegiate Accelerator Cup, where top teams from university accelerators will battle it out for a chance to win capital and the first-ever “Startup Cup.” This is a unique opportunity to showcase your skills, meet fellow entrepreneurs, and gain exposure for your business.
Day three, November 3 is all about Founders & Funders of Color. Join us for panel discussions and workshops on Angel Investing, Access to Capital, Tech Ecosystem Building, and more. This is your opportunity to learn from experts in the field, connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, and gain the knowledge and skills you need to succeed.
Finally, on November 4, we’re hosting the third Dia de Los Muertos Startup Pitch Competition, where early-stage and seed-stage startups will compete for a chance to access capital. This is your opportunity to pitch your business to investors and potentially secure funding.

Join us in the vibrant Paso Del Norte Region, which includes El Paso, TX, and Las Cruces NM. This is your chance to connect with other startup founders and funders, learn from experts, and take your business to the next level. Follow us on Twitter @ElPasoPitch for updates and information, and join us for Startup Week at the Pass!

Building a Future STEAM Workforce

On February 18, 2023, Insights Science Discovery and the Success Through Technology Education (STTE) Foundation hosted the Insights’ Sun Country Regional Science and Engineering Fair at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).

Thanks to the support from our sponsors, we were able to host a successful event that provided an opportunity for over 1,000 student competitors with 286 finalists from 89 schools across eight school districts to showcase their scientific knowledge and skills. We are also providing $6,000 in STEAM scholarships to deserving students, which will go a long way in helping them pursue their education and career goals.

Stories That Will Make You SayWhat?!

STTE created SayWhat.tv, a teen-based news program launched online during the pandemic. The platform and its various segments feature news related to education, innovation, tech, entrepreneurship, culture, and other topics that are of interest to youth. 

More importantly, it also follows a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) format that’s reflective of a process where youth learn to better understand their emotions in order to make positive and responsible decisions. It’s especially crucial today as CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) data has revealed concerning details regarding youth, depression, and suicide. This includes 34% of Texas high school students reporting feelings of sadness or hopelessness on a daily basis and 12% attempting suicide.

The STTE Foundation would like to partner with school districts to provide SayWhat.tv content and its SEL-based programming and instructional materials for educators as a part of its educational-based efforts.

STTE Wins Neighborhood Champion Award by Bank of America

On November 10, 2022 Bank of America announced Success Through Technology Education (STTE) Foundation as the recipient of 2022 Annual Neighborhood Champions Grant which addresses the need to build a competitive STEAM workforce. The investment in education supports the emergence of a new partnership between two STEAM-focused nonprofits STTE and Insights Science Discovery, who are working on building metaverse learning experiences through the annual regional science fair.

Partners announced plans to advance the regional science fair through scholarships, mentorship, and augmented reality metaverse experiences. Partners also announced plans to showcase science fair winners at La Nube, El Paso’s new interactive STEAM center.

Bank of America’s support will help to increase equitable and informed access for all students to pursue STEAM pathways through accessible, engaging, and innovative experiences. This is in alignment with STTE and Insights missions to engage our community in meaningful STEAM activities that promote the advantages of scientific and digital literacy. Partners intend to build a network of sustainable partners that supports a long-term regional STEAM strategy.

Building a Future STEAM Workforce

AR Science Fair

AR Science Fair: Climate Change Solutions

Both science and technology are at the intersection of global competitiveness and the existence of humanity. COVID-19 accelerated the adoption of new technologies faster than at any point in history. A virtual learning gap has been highlighted during this crisis and must be addressed for our students to succeed. Equally as important, never in history, as demonstrated during the pandemic, have trust and understanding in science been more critical. How we prepare and engage the next generation to choose STEM and technology pathways is critical to the future success of our workforce and employers in professional disciplines of national priority.

STTE and Insights Science Discovery are offering the Augmented Reality Science Fair (ARSF), a first-of-its-kind model that complements the traditional science fair by introducing augmented reality to student research and innovations. 

Statistics confirm students remember 90% of the material if it is learned through experience. According to VR in Education Report, Learning Gain and Motivation are two critical areas Augmented Reality enhances. Studies stated that, when using AR systems, students improve their academic performance and feel more motivated by AR applications compared to other pedagogical tools.

STTE is designing our next interactive science fair book to educate students about climate change solutions. The book will feature immersive augmented reality student projects, youtube news, and fun quizzes.

#Take5 News!! Open AI, Startups, Keynote and Teacher Awards! - https://mailchi.mp/caf6f5d378a4/saywhat-steam-scholarships-9558045

3

#RT @InnovareSIP: Inno™️ enables leaders to direct their attention back where it matters most... all in one place.

📊Assign actions to team members and collaborators
📊Integrate meeting agendas
📊Self-assess using our rubrics library

Load More...
[rev_slider alias="funky-slider"][/rev_slider]

Advancing Economic Development Through a Startup Ecosystem

As of 7.18.2022, STTE and our community partners are proud to share our Startup Report highlighting ten LatinX startups from the Borderplex region. STTE startup support services included mentorship, investor pitch deck preparation, IP protection, trademarks & agreements, startup sprints, pitch events, and co-working space. Thanks to the Hispanics In Philanthropy, LatinXPV program, Inicio Ventures, Sun Cruces Angels, VelaWood Law, and various sponsoring organizations for pitch events, efforts were made possible. The University of Texas at El Paso and New Mexico State University Arrowhead Center also supported cultivating the STEAM talent pipeline and providing impactful resources. 

stte startup report
$ 0 +
Funds Raised by Startups

Innovare -a platform that empowers education leaders to make data-driven decisions. Featured at Miami and London EdTech Week, alumni of the Latin XPV & now in the StartOut Growth Lab sponsored by JP Morgan, and continues to scale across the country with 2 million in annual reoccurring revenue. https://innovaresip.com/

Parabeac – a SaaS company that helps app development teams automate their design to development workflow. A recent recipient of Google For Startups Latino Fund, the company has raised $1.2m to date. https://parabeac.com/

Metalx Biocycle – a deep tech company that reclaims critical metals from e-waste for a sustainable, carbon-free future. MTLX has been awarded $500K in non-dilutive funding from the Department of Energy and $525K from a San Francisco-based accelerator program. https://www.metalxbiocycle.com/

Alpha Back – a browser extension that pays users crypto to view ads. Launched in June 2022 and celebrated 1,000 installs in less than a month. https://alphaback.xyz/

InternBytes – a diverse internship community platform with over 1,200 students in the community. Secured Amazon as the first customer on July 15, 2022, and will help scale MVP while creating opportunities for interns. https://internbytes.com/

OTEN Medical -the Original CPAP Hose Holder, HSA & FSA eligible with patented curvature that provides a smooth surface to allow tangle-free movement for better sleep. Sold to 1,265 customers through website/Amazon/eBay/Walmart and $60K fundraised. https://otenmedical.com/

Thyroid HQ – an alternative blood analysis online platform that identifies thyroid function optimal zones for minority populations is closing on a partnership with Ordrs.io to source 250 Thyroid hormone test kits, growing userbase and raising awareness on thyroid health. Over 200 customer discovery interviews were conducted for validation.

P.M. Technologies -an advanced manufacturing technology company has invested in an industrial additive manufacturing system to serve its growing customer base. $40K in annual reoccurring revenue. https://www.pmtechs.com/

Sentinel Delivery -leading the way in drone technology and autonomous software design, Sentinel Delivery placed second in the 2022 International Conference on Robotics and Automation CRA. Teaming up with other innovators to explore technology solutions with applications. https://sentineldelivery.com/

Klevy Tea -a beverage brand that solidified manufacturing capability with a bottle fulfillment rate of 1,000 per week. Scaling through cloud retail locations and pitching to ECRM Global Market (online trade show to buyers from Whole Foods, Sprouts, Albertsons etc). $32K in revenue & 2K in new customers in 2022. https://www.klevytea.com/

US EDA Secretary

On October 17, 2022, STTE had two special guests visit our office; the US Economic Development Administration Assistant Secretary Alejandra Castillo and US Congresswoman Veronica Escobar. In addition, four of STTE’s emerging LatinX startups pitched to the leaders. It was a monumental moment for our entrepreneurs to share their journeys and innovative solutions to transform our community one day. We also had leadership from the City of El Paso and Bitwise Industries attend and share how they intend to cultivate the tech sector. Leadership matters!

LatinX EdTech Summit: Bridging the Digital Divide

LatinX EdTech Summit Logo

STTE Foundation, EduLab Capital Partners, and CREEED hosted a half-day intersection of STEAM exploration, education celebration, and action creation as it relates to education technology. LatinX Edtech Summit connects leading national EdTech companies, teachers, and education leaders of influence to develop sustainable and resilient solutions that generate “Action.” LatinX EdTech Summit will Impact:

  • Provide rural areas and small to midsize school districts with options for accessibility to cutting edge technologies
  • Advance underserved Hispanic populations
  • Attract emerging Edtech leaders to the border region and demonstrate how to better serve the Hispanic markets
  • Recognition opportunity for teachers through awards mechanism

Generational Impact

Generational Transformers

On Tuesday, February 8, 2022, members of STTE Sandbox, gathered to capture the generational transformation. Entrepreneurs, creatives, and attorneys living the dream in the startup space are creating products that will change the world for the better. The Generation Transformers are acting NOW with No Opportunities Wasted. At STTE Sandbox, we create change through Stories, STEAM, and Startups. 🔥🎤🚀🦄

Shout out to our members:

Sign up for our #Take5 newsletter that covers inspirational stories,  STEAM education & workforce, and startups that are emerging industries.

🔥🎤🚀🦄

Newsletter

Thank You To Our Supporters

Thanks to our trusted network of dedicated supporters, STTE is able to operate and help make a generational impact in the world.

American Consortium For Equity in Education (https://ace-ed.org/)

Carnegie Mellon University (https://www.cmu.edu/)

EduLab Capital (https://www.edulabcapital.com/)

Geenee.ar (https://geenee.ar/)

Hispanics In Philanthropy (HIP.org)

Sand Hill Angels Charitable Fund (Sand Hill Angels Charitable Fund)

Bank of America (https://www.bankofamerica.com/)

Council on Regional Economic Expansion and Educational Development (CREEED) (https://www.creeed.org/)

El Paso Electric (https://www.epelectric.com/)

Innovare (https://innovaresip.com/)

New Mexico State University Arrowhead Center (https://arrowheadcenter.nmsu.edu/)

Paso del Norte Community Foundation
(
https://pdnfoundation.org/)

The University of Texas at El Paso (https://www.utep.edu/)