MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College Chemistry Professor Lindsay Groce was recently recognized
for her dedication to expanding access and belonging in STEM at the NCW Tech Alliance’s
24th Annual Innovator Awards Luncheon in Wenatchee. She was named 2025 STEM Champion of
the Year at the event.
Since 2000, NCW Tech Alliance has used its Innovator Awards to celebrate the drive, passion, and spirit of innovation across the region. Each year, the organization considers businesses and individuals for five awards— Entrepreneur of the Year, Newcomer in Technology, STEM Champion of the Year, STEM College Student Innovator of the Year and (K-12) Future Technology Leader of the Year.
The STEM Champion of the Year award recognizes educators and community members who are dedicated to fostering STEM learning experiences and promoting STEM pathways for students. Groce was one of three finalists being considered for the award.
Part of her nomination read, “Through mentorship, outreach, and the creation of programs like STEMposium, Lindsay connects institutions and students across the region, empowering rural and transfer students to see themselves as future scientists and innovators.”
“I'm very proud of the work we've done for our students and this recognition for the energy put in to support our STEM students means so very much to me,” said Groce. “I'm grateful to the NCW Tech Alliance for putting on these awards, for the Port of Moses Lake for sponsoring the STEM Champion award in particular, and to the Math/Science Division for spearheading the nomination. It was an uplifting event and I felt lucky to be a part of it.”
Also recognized at this year’s Innovator Awards was College in the High School (CiHS) student Gerardo Guerrero from Quincy High School, who won the K-12 Future Technology Leader of the Year award and alumni Cooper Cox, who was a finalist for the STEM College Innovator of the Year award.
For more information about the Innovator Awards and to see the rest of this year’s winners, visit the NCW Tech Alliance website.