Illinois Science Explorers is thrilled to share that Paige Duncan, CSBS Community Engagement Specialist, has been selected to receive the Champaign Park District’s Community Partner Award—one of the district’s annual honors, awarded in December 2025.
This award recognizes Paige’s outstanding leadership and collaboration with the Champaign Park District in launching and growing monthly Family STEM Nights at the Martens Center, which began in January 2025. Designed to bring families together through hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math experiences, the program now regularly welcomes 40–50 participants each month and continues to grow.
Carolyn MacDonald, a University of Illinois graduate student in the Department of Psychology, has played a critical role in the program’s success. Working closely with Paige, Carolyn has contributed to program design, activity development, and facilitation, helping shape engaging and inclusive experiences that resonate with families via the incorporation of social and behavioral science principles.
Following the success of Family STEM Nights at the Martens Center, Illinois Science Explorers expanded the program in August 2025 through a new partnership with the Urbana Park District. These monthly events continue the mission of providing interactive, family-centered opportunities for children and caregivers to explore science together, strengthening family connections and building excitement around STEM learning in Urbana.
Paige Duncan, Carolyn MacDonald, and Illinois Science Explorers are deeply honored to receive this award and grateful for the Champaign Park District’s continued support. This partnership has been instrumental in creating opportunities for families to learn, connect, and discover together—and Illinois Science Explorers looks forward to expanding community-centered STEM programming in the years ahead.
