RAISE Kansas brings career exploration, community innovation to rural schools

HAYS, Kan. - In its first year partnering with Fort Hays State University’s Science and Math Education Institute (SMEI), RAISE Kansas is making big strides in connecting rural students with career-ready opportunities.

RAISE Kansas—formerly known as STEMM FIRE—is a rural education initiative powered by a Patterson Family Foundation grant and generous donors. Its mission is to expand opportunities for young people in rural Kansas by providing hands-on experiences, mentorship, and exposure to high-demand careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM).

Formed in 2019, STEMM FIRE was built around a simple but powerful concept—bring STEMM professionals directly into rural classrooms, providing students exposure to regional and local STEMM careers they may have never seen. In just a few short years, this program has reached nearly 9,000 students statewide. In the 2024–25 school year alone, nearly 2,700 students participated in RAISE Kansas programs, an increase of 1,100 students over the prior year.

“We are doing very well with our rural school program, which is exciting to see,” said Lindsay Schmidt, executive director of RAISE Kansas. “We’re seeing more schools reaching out and asking us to visit.”

In total, nearly 100 volunteers—including professionals from Textron Aviation, Kansas State University, Washburn University, Emporia State, and Fort Hays State—helped bring career exploration directly into rural classrooms this year. Schmidt also welcomed two new assistant directors, Earl Legleiter and Sailor-Anne Seiler, who helped deliver programs to Kansas students.

“Anytime we can bring in professionals to talk about both their careers and the pathways to college or tech programs, that’s a powerful double exposure for our students,” Schmidt said. “It helps them see what’s possible—and what it takes to get there.”

The program’s reach continues to grow, thanks to new initiatives like the Educonomy Pilot Program—an innovative effort modeled after Colorado’s Homegrown Talent Initiative. Educonomy brings educators, business leaders, and students in each community together to discuss local workforce needs and design homegrown solutions to enhance the rural workforce. The goal: building stronger relationships between districts and rural employers to develop community-specific learning pathways and opportunities that prepare students for meaningful careers in their own communities.

“Districts and their rural employers are discussing what the most successful graduate would look like for their specific community and trying to figure out the needs of the community and build upon those skill sets in their school systems, such as providing certificate programs and more local internships,” Schmidt said. “It’s important for rural employers to be a part of the production of their local talent, not just the consumption of it.”

The pilot is currently underway in five Western Kansas school districts: Norton, Lincoln, Dighton, Stafford, and Hodgeman County. Now, six to nine months into a three-year timeline, participating communities are already seeing early momentum.

With strong community support and a growing network of partners, Schmidt says RAISE Kansas is only getting started.

“We are there to offer a liaison to different entities across the state with connections and ideas,” she said. “I’m excited to see what a difference RAISE Kansas, through Fort Hays State, can make in rural communities.”

Meanwhile, RAISE Kansas continues to energize students with real-world learning experiences. One standout event this year was the first-ever Hays Kansas Science Festival, organized in collaboration with STEM Harvest, the Hays Public Library, and local partners. The May event welcomed over 1,200 attendees to downtown Hays, with hands-on science exhibits like stomp rockets, telescopes, Tesla coils, drones, and robotics. K-12 students were encouraged to explore the world of STEM and see regional employers in action.

“Our partnership with RAISE Kansas through the Science and Mathematics Education Institute reflects FHSU’s commitment to serve rural Kansas,” said Paul Adams, Dean of the College of Education. “Together, we are creating experiences that connect students with local professionals and illuminate career pathways – right in their own communities.”

“This work doesn’t just inspire students; it builds capacity and hope for the future of rural Kansas.”

For additional news and information about RAISE Kansas, go to: https://raiseks.org/