Dear Fellow Rotarian, You know that I am deeply committed to Rotary Youth Services. The STEM Academy (STEM YEA), introduced for the first time in July 2022, serves a younger set of students who are still exploring what educational path they wish to pursue. The 2025 STEM YEA will be held July 10-13, 2025 on the Kutztown University campus. The Fourth STEM YEA Big Ticket Reverse Raffle fundraiser is only 3 months away. This is an important function to bring visibility to the Rotary STEM Youth Explorer Academy and also raise funds to help offset costs in order to make tuition affordable for all clubs wishing to sponsor students.   The guest speaker is Dhruv Seshadri, a member of Allentown West Rotary Club and an assistant professor in the Department of Bioengineering at Lehigh University. He received his B.S. in polymers science and engineering in 2014, M.S. and PhD degrees in biomedical engineering in 2018 and 2022 respectively from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. His research involves the development, validation, and translation of wearable technology, bioelectronic devices and therapeutics targeting human health and performance. In addition to his academic achievements, Dhruv has been a member of an International Rotaplast team.   The 2025 “STEM YEA Big Ticket Reverse Raffle Night” is scheduled for September 27, 2025 at the Franconia Heritage Banquet & Conference Center, 508 Harleysville Pike, Unit A, Telford, PA. Tickets can be purchased in advance through August 1, 2025 to take advantage of a 10% discount. Total ticket sales are limited to 150. Your ticket helps to fund the operational costs of the STEM YEA program for middle schoolers, especially under-resourced students, to make it affordable for all our clubs to sponsor students, The ticket entitles you to a fun evening including hors d’oeuvres, drinks, dinner, a Caricatures by Emily Byrne, and a lottery ticket with a chance to win one of numerous prizes totaling $5,000 when 150 tickets are sold. Organize your group and act now to purchase your tickets. We are also looking for sponsorships from businesses and individuals along with contributions of silent auction items. Please reach out to Darlene Scott with any questions.    Click here to purchase your tickets.   https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stem-yea-big-ticket-reverse-raffle-2025-tickets-1252280567889?aff=oddtdtcreatorhttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/stem-yea-big-ticket-reverse-raffle-2025-tickets-1252280567889?aff=oddtdtcreator   Thank you! I look forward to seeing you there.   Yours in Rotary Service,   Mary Cook, District Governor