Thank You

For celebrating The STEM Connection’s 10th Anniversary with us at Sunflowers at Sunset 2024, and to everyone who helped make the evening a stunning success!

The STEM Connection celebrated its10th anniversary on the evening of September 13th, 2024 with a signature event, Sunflowers at Sunset. Hosted at the picturesque Moore Road Farm, the celebration brought supporters, sponsors, and community members together for a magical evening supporting youth in STEM programs.

Guests were welcomed with a signature cocktail or mocktail, "The Golden Hour," crafted by award-winning mixologist Matt Gillen, setting the tone for an elegant and memorable night. The event featured a live jazz trio led by acclaimed singer-songwriter Sarah Scharbrough, providing a soulful soundtrack as attendees gathered for a gourmet dinner. Guests enjoyed appetizers before delving into a delectable meal while seated at a long, sunflower-studded table set amongst alfalfa and sunflower fields. The culinary journey concluded with a show-stopping dessert flambe.

The evening's setting invited attendees to capture memorable photos among the sunflowers. Guests also explored an Art Walk featuring six local Indianapolis artists, with a portion of the sales benefitting The STEM Connection’s mission.

With perfect weather accompanying the beautiful sunset, the event highlighted the incredible community support that helps break down barriers for youth in STEM.

Looking Ahead: A Decade of Growth and Transformation

Over the past 10 years, The STEM Connection has grown from a simple idea into a powerful movement, serving over 6,000 young people on-site annually. With plans to expand and serve 10,000 annually by 2026, the organization continues to create inclusive, nature-based STEM experiences, committed to those underrepresented youth.

"The success of this event and our programs is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our staff, volunteers, partners, donors, and supporters," said Vera Vander Kooy, Founder and Executive Director. "We are excited about inspiring and sweetening futures in the next decade and beyond."

Thank You to Our Event Sponsors

For more information on event sponsorships, email: sponsorships@thestemconnection.org

World-Class Performer and Songwriter:

Sarah Scharbrough McLaughlin

Sarah Scharbrough McLaughlin’s soulful, eclectic sound combines a rich tapestry of influences, including her classical and jazz training, and a broad spectrum of experiences in gospel, pop, and country. An Indiana native and Anderson University graduate, Sarah has released six original studio albums that have taken her around the globe. She lends her voice to local and national commercials for brands like New Balance and the Indianapolis Colts and has been featured on Emmy Award-winning TV shows "Artrageous with Nate" and "Cook and Belle’s Playhouse." Sarah has collaborated with Grammy Award-winning artists and regularly performs in Greater Indianapolis. A respected worship leader at Grace Church in Noblesville, she also co-hosts the Momnesia Podcast, sharing the multifaceted stories of motherhood. Sarah resides in Noblesville with her husband Jeff, a music educator and performer, and their five children.

Award-Winning Mixologist:

Matt Gillen

With nearly 20 years of service experience, including over 15 years at St. Elmo Steak House, Matt Gillen is a distinguished professional at Huse Culinary, Inc. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality & Restaurant Management & Business from Indiana State University and a Level One Distinction from the Court of Master Sommeliers. Matt created the "Bermuda Triangle" cocktail, now a staple on all Huse Culinary restaurant menus, and has won the Devour Downtown Indy Cocktail Contest and placed as runner-up in the Regional Cocktail Contest for After Hours Bourbon.

Artists:

Darya Bowskill

  • Darya Bowskill works in oil paint watercolor and colored pencils creating images inspired by wildlife and the natural world. She is particularly fond on painting and drawing birds and animals. She enjoys the challenge of capturing both the likeness and character of her subjects and strives to bring a sense of life and animation to her paintings.

Susie Ardelean

  • Susie Ardelean is an abstract mixed media artist specializing in alcohol inks and resin on Yupo. Growing up as the fourth of six daughters in a creative household, Susie was influenced by her crafty mom, her dad's woodworking, and art lessons from her watercolorist grandmother and master watercolorist J. Anna Roberts. A 2009 Marian University graduate with a degree in Graphic Design, she currently works as the Marketing & Community Relations Manager at the Avon-Washington Township Public Library. Susie began exploring alcohol inks in 2018 to combat perfectionism and embrace the joy of the creative process. Her art, which she calls "color therapy," has helped her navigate personal challenges, including battling cancer and dealing with grief. Susie's art has not only been a personal outlet but has also connected her with many amazing people, for which she is deeply grateful.

Jacob Hernandez

  • Jacob Hernandez has had a passion for art since he was young. He started experimenting with different media while in college at Ball State University. Ink has become his medium of choice through his journey and has helped him to explore the endless possibilities that can be found using only black and white. Jacob tends to keep things on a smaller scale, with practically every one of his original illustrations measuring under 6 Inches. Aside from working on his art, he enjoys connecting with other artists as he is an active member of the Fishers Arts Council and the Kokomo Art Association, engaging in multiple exhibitions and booth fairs.

Frankie Viglietta

  • Frankie Viglietta is an Indianapolis-based artist who works primarily with glass and metal. She received her B.A. with a glass concentration, from Ball State University. Frankie’s artistic practice revolves around the captivating interplay of glass and metal, two mediums that fuel her passion for creativity and transformation. Through her pieces, she endeavors to channel the essence of self-expression and the allure of metamorphosis, showcasing the boundless potential of glass in innovative and captivating ways.

Linda Westfall

  • Linda Westfall always wanted to be an artist. She was inspired by her father who was a physician by profession and an artist at heart. His doodles were mini works of art. Notepads and napkins were his canvas. These, too, were Linda’s means of expression until in her early 50s, when her husband gave her a set of oils as a gift. Linda signed us up for an encaustic workshop and was hooked. Many years later, she attended a workshop on cold wax and oils and was hooked again. Different tools and techniques can be used with both mediums to produce a variety of results. In the process of adding layers, scraping, and manipulating the medium, a painting often ends up with very different results from the first idea in mind–she hopes you enjoy the results.

Kenny Sprinkle & Michael Burt

  • Kenny Sprinkle graduated from Ball State University in 2013, with a BFA in ceramics and a BS in Visual Arts Education. He has taught ceramics at the Indianapolis Art Center, the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Fountain Square Clay Center. Most recently, Kenny began working part-time as a studio tech for the American Art and Clay Company’s Marketing Department. Kenny’s personal aesthetics, when it comes to his ceramics, derives mostly from forms, textures, and colors found in nature. While he does enjoy throwing on the pottery wheel, many of his pieces are constructed using a variety of hand-building techniques. Over the past few years, his partner Michael Burt started dabbling in clay and has begun collaborating on pieces with him and soon was researching and experimenting with a wide variety of glazes and how they interact through the layering process. Michael’s love of color and his patience for brushing on glazes has resulted in much more colorful works of art.