The power of an IDEA. Doors Open to STEAM Learning at Dan & Cassidy Towriss IDEA Space KC IN A YEAR OF DYNAMIC GROWTH across the Barstow campus — in admissions, philanthropic support and construction — perhaps the biggest development occurred across State Line Road in Leawood, Kansas. On June 21, 2022, the Dan & Cassidy Towriss IDEA Space KC opened its doors to supporters of Kansas City’s highly anticipated center for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) learning. A few weeks later, the first group of excited students began hands-on courses focused on innovation, discovery, entrepreneurship and arts.
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Capturing and inspiring the imagination of young people has the potential to create game-changing, life-changing and perhaps even world-
into four key workforce development areas: skilled trades, engineering, advanced manufacturing and computer science. Students in kindergarten through grade 12 will have consistent and ongoing experiences in the center’s Makerspace, Technology Lab, Fabrication Workshop and Incubation Hub. Each area is purposefully designed and equipped with cutting-edge tools and technology: 3D printers, laser cutters, hand-
changing outcomes.”
held and power tools, woodworking saws and lathe,
— Dan Towriss, Leadership Donor
CNC router and CNC mill, VR headsets and controllers, robotics kits, gaming systems and so much more — plus a growing inventory of everything students need
“We believe that capturing and inspiring the imag-
to turn their ideas into something useful and real.
ination of young people has the potential to create
Barstow President Shane Foster and Vice President
game-changing, life-changing and perhaps even
of Advancement Jennifer Dreiling led the successful
world-changing outcomes,” Dan Towriss told the au-
capital campaign and raised $9 million to repurpose
dience that evening. He and his wife, Cassidy Rudman
a vacant grocery store at 12200 State Line Road. The
Towriss ’12, are multi-million dollar Leadership Donors
board of trustees and more than 40 corporate, foun-
to the center that bears their name. They recognize
dation and individual donors supported the presi-
that STEAM skills are essential for the next generation
dent’s vision for a regional STEAM center. Pluribus
workforce.
Architectural Collective and JE Dunn joined the proj-
Designed to serve thousands of students from di-
ect, and after months of successful fundraising (even
verse neighborhoods and socioeconomic backgrounds,
during a pandemic), planning and designing, con-
IDEA Space seeks to broaden and diversify pipelines
struction began September 1, 2021.
Professional-in-Residence Leo Johns watches a student use a soldering iron during a dronebuilding workshop in July.
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Trustees Greg Graves, Jennifer Gille Bacon, Cassidy Rudman Towriss ’12, Rob Rothhaas, Soni Patel, Amanda Morgan ’94 and Chairman Joel Brous ’88 helped open IDEA Space on June 21, 2022.
DAN & CASSIDY TOWRISS IDEASPACE
For IDEA Space Director Kellye Crockett, reimagining the space as a cutting-edge community resource was the ultimate STEAM project. “Yes, this is a building,” she told donors who had gathered for the first look in June. “But you’ve invested in something much more for the children of Kansas City. You’ve invested in the power of their ideas.” Barstow students will spend part of their school day at IDEA Space for STEAM-based classes and activities and may also participate in extracurriculars like robotics or esports. Partnering with school districts, home school associations and community groups, thousands of other metro students will access IDEA Space for summer or after school courses and co-curricular work. They’ll have ongoing access to the tools and technology they need to increase their comfort and confidence in STEAM fields. Children will learn to communicate, collaborate and become makers, doers and leaders. “Through IDEA Space, students all over the Kansas City metro area will be part of an interactive learning program in a first-class environment, and I look forward to the lessons they’ll get to take with them into
I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to give back to a place that gave me so much.” — Cassidy Rudman Towriss ’12, Leadership Donor
their futures,” Cassidy Rudman Towriss ’12 said. “I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to give back to a place that gave me so much.”
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Thank you for helping us turn the idea of bright futures for all into the Dan & Cassidy Towriss IDEA Space KC. LEADERSHIP DONORS
COLLABORATION AND FOUNDING DONORS
The Barstow School
Jennifer Gille Bacon and Charles Bacon
Mark One Electric Company, Inc.
Sunderland Foundation
Joel P. Brous ’88 and Carrie Brous
Mdivani Corporate Immigration Law Firm
Cassidy Rudman Towriss ’12 and Dan Towriss
Ronald D. Deffenbaugh Foundation
JoZach Miller ’80 and Peter Bali
Anonymous
Feist Charitable Foundation
Nancy Embry Thiessen ’66 and Michael Thiessen
Garmin
Jennifer Thiessen Waldeck ’90 and John Waldeck
JE Dunn Construction
Westphal Family Charitable Foundation
INNOVATION DONORS Kompass Kapital Foundation William T. Kemper Foundation– Commerce Bank, Trustee EMPOWERMENT DONORS The DeBruce Foundation Fry Orthodontic Specialists Graves Family Foundation NorvaNivel William and Beth Zollars
ENRICHMENT AND EXPLORATION DONORS Susan Belger Angulo ’76 and Thomas Angulo
Amanda Morgan ’94 and Chad King
Amie and Brad Buckner
Soni and Amar Patel
Tim Cowden
Jason Press ’90
Kellye Crockett
Ginger and Robert Rothhaas
Jennifer and Scott Dreiling
Radha and Ram Shankar
Polly and Shane Foster
Rochelle Stringer
Kevin Jeffries ’74 and Laura Jeffries
Peter A. Vrooman ’88 and Kenyon Vrooman
Stephanie and Michael Kulp
Thomas F. Whittaker ’83 and Loren Whittaker
Robert Legler and Kevin Dunn
William T. Kemper Trust, UMB
Quinton Lucas ’02
@ideaspacekc
IDEA Space KC 12200 State Line Road Leawood, KS 66209 ideaspacekc.org
Shane Foster
Jennifer Dreiling
Kellye Crockett
PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT ADVANCEMENT
VICE PRESIDENT INNOVATION
816-942-3255 shane.foster@barstowschool.org
913-488-8192 jennifer.dreiling@barstowschool.org
AND IDEA SPACE 816-277-0413 kellye.crockett@ideaspacekc.org