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IKM-Manning to Enhance School and Business Collaboration with STEM Council Support
IKM-Manning to Enhance School and Business Collaboration with STEM Council Support
The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education is directing additional support to IKM-Manning’s STEM BEST® (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) Program through a STEM BEST® Program Enhancement Award.
The funds will help enhance work-based learning opportunities made available through school and business partnerships during the 2025–2026 academic year.
The IKM-Manning STEM BEST FIRE program is a student-led business specializing in shirt printing and laser engraving. The FIRE program will be adding another laser engraving machine, enabling students to work with larger items and increase production capacity to meet growing demand.
“The FIRE program concentrates on developing students’ soft skills—specifically communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking,” said co-facilitator Luann Langel, who leads the initiative alongside Kevin Lahndorf. “Students work through real-world scenarios involving customers, supplies, and deadlines. This class helps prepare them for any path they choose after high school, whether that means continuing on to college or entering the workforce.”
With the addition of new equipment and continued community support, the FIRE program remains committed to empowering students through hands-on, real-world business experiences that build both technical skills and confidence.
Through the STEM BEST® Program, students and teachers work closely with local workplaces and professionals to introduce and prepare learners for future success in their communities. By helping schools identify and anticipate local workforce needs in collaboration with business professionals, the STEM BEST® Program strengthens Iowa’s future workforce through the development and expansion of work-based learning and career exploration opportunities.
The STEM BEST® Program Enhancement Award supports previously awarded STEM BEST® programs that demonstrate how additional funding will enrich or expand current programming, strengthen partnerships, and enhance experiences for students.
Recipients of the 2025–2026 STEM BEST Program Enhancement Fund include:
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Allamakee Community School District
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Boone Community School District
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Creston Community School District
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Easton Valley Community School District
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Holy Family Catholic Schools – Dubuque
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IKM-Manning High School
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Iowa City Community School District
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Pleasant Valley Community School District
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Waverly Community School District
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Woodbine Community School District
