July 2, 2013 Lisa Nellessen-Lara Executive Editor The Star Press P.O.

Box 2408 Muncie, IN 47307-0408 Dear Ms. Nellessen-Lara, We are early childhood education students from Ivy Tech Community College who are advocating for the inclusion of the subject areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) in the early childhood education classroom. It is important to provide meaningful STEM experiences early while childrens interests, desires, and abilities are forming. We are writing to inform you about the STEM conference presented by Ivy Tech Community College School of Education and the East Central Chapter of the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children (IAEYC). We are hoping to persuade you to help us create awareness of the importance of science in the classroom by promoting and covering the event. STEM will take place at Ivy Tech2nd floor Fisher Building, 345 S. High St. Muncie, IN on Saturday July 20, 2013 from 8:30 -12:30. The conference is for educators and will consist of multiple hands-on workshop sessions featuring the use of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) in the preschool-6th grade classrooms. During this conference, participants will have the opportunity to attend three hands- on workshops that will offer fresh approaches to incorporating these four areas in the classroom. They also will take resources away with them. There will be a Scholastic book fair to browse and prizes will be given away. This conference will not only benefit educators but also the young children in our community. Getting young children interested and excited about science, technology, math, and engineering is often a challenge for educators, and this conference offers new and exciting ideas to use when working with children in preschool through 6th grade. If we want children to pursue higher education and careers in these important fields in the future, it is imperative to create interest and a passion for learning in the early years. Please consider promoting and covering this important event and supporting our effort to advocate for more exciting and meaningful STEM in classrooms for young children. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely,

Malinda Irwin and Candace Brammer Ivy Tech Community College Early Childhood Education Students