74th Celebration of STEM
Wednesday, February 10, 2027
Join us for the Celebration of STEM, returning to the Wisconsin Club as a reception-style event! The day will feature a keynote speaker (stay tuned!) and offer a great opportunity to connect with fellow STEM enthusiasts. We are also taking nominations for the Engineer of the Year Award and Young Engineer of the Year Award. We'll present both awards at the reception, along with the Spirit of STEM Award.
Celebration of STEM questions: please contact Allison Zahn at azahn@stemforward.org.
Nominate a 2026 Engineer of the Year and Young Engineer of the Year!
The STEM Forward Engineer of the Year (EOY) Award and the Young Engineer of the Year (YEOY) Award (engineer under 40) have been presented annually since 1953 to outstanding contributors to the engineering profession from the greater Milwaukee area. Past winners have helped raise the profession's and the region's visibility while serving as role models to many.
If you are an exceptional engineer, or know one, apply by December 9, 2026. Please complete the nomination form and submit optional letters of support.
Thank you to everyone who attended and sponsored the 73rd Annual Celebration of STEM!
The event was held on February 11, 2026, at a fantastic new venue, the Wisconsin Club, in a reception format As part of the celebration, we featured a keynote speaker and presented the Spirit of STEM Award, Engineer of the Year Award, and Young Engineer of the Year Award. We also interacted with the 1st- and 2nd-place teams in the Future City Competition.
2026 Keynote Speaker: Peggy Williams-Smith
President & CEO of Visit Milwaukee
As the Celebration of STEM keynote speaker, Peggy Williams-Smith shared why SE Wisconsin is a dynamic place to live, work, and innovate, and previewed the exciting developments shaping the region’s future. A Milwaukee native and hospitality industry veteran, Williams-Smith joined Visit Milwaukee in 2019 as the organization’s first female President and CEO. Her strategic leadership has fueled consecutive years of economic growth across the region. Attendees gained a compelling perspective on organizations and leaders focused on attracting talent and enhancing quality of life in Greater Milwaukee!
2026 Sponsors
Congratulations 2025 Award Winners!
Heidi Balestrieri | Director of Engineering - Sentry Equipment
2025 Engineer of the Year
Heidi Balestrieri is Director of Engineering at Sentry Equipment, a peerless global provider of sampling and process improvement technologies that protect people and the environment and help create a safer world. Heidi has led many initiatives that offer creative solutions, drawing on her unmatched expertise and experience. Heidi spends her time coaching and mentoring the Sentry engineering team and developing the company's long-term engineering vision. Eager to make an impact, Balestrieri has channeled her passion for elevating women in STEM into advocacy, learning, and inspiring the next generation through her work with STEM-related organizations. As a long-time partner of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Heidi served as the SWE Wisconsin Section VP of Outreach, where they impacted over 800 children. She also served as the WE Local Milwaukee Chair, leading the local host committee to a successful conference with over 500 attendees from 33 states.
Priyatha (Priya) Premnath, Ph.D. | Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering at the UW - Milwaukee
2025 Young engineer of the year
Dr. Priyatha (Priya) Premnath is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. Her research focuses on advancing bone health by integrating fundamental biological insights with innovative pharmaceutical and biomaterials-based solutions. She leads an interdisciplinary research laboratory that brings together biomedical, mechanical, and computer engineers to address complex challenges in musculoskeletal health. Beyond her research, Dr. Premnath is a dedicated educator and mentor with a strong commitment to community engagement. She has a long-standing record of STEM outreach, having served as an engineering liaison to local high schools during her doctoral training and, later, leading outreach initiatives during her postdoctoral fellowship to support Indigenous communities. In Milwaukee, she continues to collaborate with local high schools and elementary schools, including summer programs that introduce high school girls to engineering. She also actively mentors undergraduate researchers in her laboratory, many of whom have presented their work at regional and national conferences and have gone on to secure employment in Milwaukee’s engineering and biomedical industries.
The Spirit of STEM Award was established in 2013 to honor organizations committed to advancing STEM education and building talent in southeastern Wisconsin. Their efforts significantly impact STEM education and talent. Past recipients include Direct Supply, GE Healthcare, Komatsu, Northwestern Mutual, Rockwell Automation, We Energies, American Family Insurance, Harley Davidson, and Milwaukee Tool.
2026 Spirit of STEM
Badger Meter is a highly deserving Spirit of STEM Award recipient, acknowledged for its support of Milwaukee Public Schools student tours, career fairs, and youth apprenticeships; its long-standing investment in Discovery World exhibit development and funding; its volunteer engagement with STEM Forward programs; participation in the Learn Deep Fellows Program; and its partnerships with Brown Deer Middle School, among many other meaningful contributions.