Wyoming Starbase Academy Faces Closure Due to Federal Funding Shortfall
The Wyoming Starbase Academy, a key STEM education program based in Cheyenne, is facing potential closure next month due to a significant federal funding gap, Wyoming News Now reports.
The program, which has served the community since 1995, is one of 90 similar initiatives across the country that may cease operations unless Congress acts soon.
According to Danielle Jensen-Ryan, president of the Wyoming Starbase Foundation Board, the program relies on annual appropriations from the Department of Defense (DoD) to operate. While the US House of Representatives has proposed $60 million for the program, the US Senate has suggested a cut to $20 million, a figure deemed insufficient to sustain the initiative. This discrepancy in funding has caused the DoD to release only a portion of the necessary funds, forcing many Starbase programs to close their doors. Wyoming’s program has so far been kept open thanks to temporary funding from Governor Mark Gordon.
In a letter shared on social media, the Starbase Foundation urged local residents to contact Wyoming’s representatives, including Senator John Barrasso, Governor Mark Gordon, and Joseph Coslett Jr., Director of Strategic Communications for the Wyoming Air National Guard, to advocate for continued support for the program. The letter highlights the critical role Wyoming Starbase Academy has played in inspiring thousands of students through hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.
“The program has proudly served Cheyenne and the state of Wyoming since 1995, inspiring thousands of students through hands-on STEM education,” the post reads. “However, the program is now facing a critical funding crisis that threatens to disrupt these invaluable learning experiences.”
The academy offers outreach to fifth-grade students statewide, helping them access STEM education that may otherwise be unavailable in their schools. The program has been credited with sparking long-term interest in STEM fields for many students, some of whom remember their experiences at Starbase as the highlight of their education.
Terrene Vigil, a local fifth-grade teacher, emphasized the broad impact a potential closure would have on students across Wyoming.
“It’s not just Cheyenne kids that are going to be impacted,” Vigil explained. “This is going to be something that impacts across the state, because they do outreach programs, even beyond working with fifth-grade students.”
Vigil noted that the program’s alignment with the fifth-grade curriculum makes it an essential educational resource, introducing students to STEM careers and government programs such as NASA. She also pointed out that Starbase provides hands-on experiences that students often don’t have access to in the classroom due to funding constraints.
The academy’s closure could significantly limit students’ exposure to vital STEM learning opportunities, which are essential for building a future workforce in these fields. As stated in the Starbase Foundation’s letter:
“Investing in STEM education today means a stronger, more innovative workforce for Wyoming’s future.”
While Governor Gordon has provided interim funding to keep the program running for now, this support is temporary. Unless Congress reaches a funding agreement by March 13, Wyoming Starbase Academy, along with other similar programs nationwide, could be forced to shut down, leaving a void in STEM education for students across the state.
