The power of an IDEA.

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