Celebrating 120 Years: 1905 - 2025!

STEM Forward’s history

It all began when 59 engineers gathered in the Colonial Room of the Plankinton House on December 13, 1905, to elect officers and directors. Founded as the Engineering Society of Milwaukee, the name later changed to the Engineers & Scientists of Milwaukee (ESM).

The purpose of the Society was to form a “cooperative body, broad enough in scope to meet the needs of all engineers and technical men in the community.” Charter members were engineers affiliated with national technical societies, such as the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Chemical Society, and the Verein Deutscher Ingenieure of the German Polytechnic Society.

A scholarship program was established in 1939 following an anonymous donation of $6,000.  The program expanded in the 1950s through fundraisers and grants. It remains today. In the early 1990s, ESM broadened its membership focus to include STEM education and youth outreach.

Despite its ups and downs, the organization stands strong more than 120 years later and was renamed STEM Forward in 2011 to reflect the expanded focus on all areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Today, STEM Forward is southeastern Wisconsin’s leading nonprofit and technical organization, providing and promoting educational outreach programs that emphasize STEM.

We continue to host a variety of STEM-related events, including the Celebration of STEM (formerly the Engineers Week Banquet), the Invitational Scholarship Golf Outing and Silent Auction, and the sySTEMnow Conference. Check out the "Programs and Events" section for the complete list. 

Through programs, activities, and competitions, STEM Forward inspires youth to pursue STEM careers while preparing them for a 21st-century workforce, providing local businesses with a pipeline of STEM talent. 

Additionally, STEM Forward serves as a resource for schools and businesses to establish partnerships through its Day of STEM Program, and it cross-promotes STEM-related activities to raise awareness and educate others. 

Volunteers, generous donors, and partnerships enable us to fulfill our vision of inspiring a future-ready STEM workforce. Thank you for your support!