Waunakee Community High School

Mission Statement:  
The Innovation Center will promote and educate the ideas of innovation,
ingenuity, and creativity in the students, staff, and members
of the Waunakee community.

The Waunakee Innovation Center is a partnership between the Waunakee Community School District and the Waunakee Area Education Foundation.  The Innovation Center will be a resource space that the school and community will be able to use to promote the education of innovation, ingenuity, and creativity.  The center will also promote the integration of curricular areas through collaborative projects and teamwork.  With a planned opening date of September 2016, the Innovation Center hopes to partner with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to become a certified Fab Lab. This partnership will allow the students of the Waunakee Community School District to become part of the global creative network by sharing their designs and knowledge with other Fab Labs across the world.

STEM/STEAM Education

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) also known as STEAM (adding Art) represents a large portion of the American Economy.  According to the US Department of Education, STEM career growth is projected to rise 14% by 2020.  The Innovation Center will offer a unique space where STEAM education will be able to be experienced by students and community.  Our students will be able to grow their STEAM skills through courses offered in the Waunakee Community School District and then expand those skills through the Innovation Center.

Community Education

The Innovation Center will also offer a chance for community education classes to be offered to help promote the ideas of creativity, innovation, and ingenuity.  After initial set up of the Innovation Center, the possibility exists that the space will be able to be open to members of the community to use for work on projects.  

Contemporary Education

With the focus of the future workforce on 21st century skills (soft-skills), the creative problem solving process will become more and more important.  The Innovation Center will allow students and community a place to test out the research and development process while allowing participants to embark on a journey from idea to physical product.  This practical experience will also allow participants to test and hone critical skills needed in everyday life.