NASHUA, NH – The Brian S. McCarthy Memorial Foundation (BSMM) celebrated its 5th anniversary in a big way last weekend. They hosted their first Family STEM Day at the World Academy school to celebrate the occasion.
The BSMM was established in March 2019 in memory of late Nashua Alderman-at-Large Brian McCarthy, in recognition of his devotion to Nashua’s education and his affinity for the sciences and mathematics. The foundation’s mission is to promote STEM education and provide opportunities to Nashua High School students seeking to further their education in a STEM-based program.
Kim McCarthy is Brian’s daughter and the president of the foundation. This was the first edition of this event, and she was not sure of the level of interest as they planned the event. Those doubts disappeared as more than 20 exhibitors signed on and over 300 people preregistered online for the event.
“We’ve been trying to do some outreach and expand our network and get more people introduced to the field of STEM. So, seeing the response this week has been very exciting. I’m glad a lot of people are excited to come learn about STEM and see all the different local organizations,” McCarthy said.
The Family STEM Day goal was to inspire future generations of scientists, engineers, and innovators. It featured several hands-on exhibits, interactive demonstrations, and creative ways to engage in STEM learning.
Several hundred families with kids of all ages filed through the school gymnasium and visited the displays.
NH State Representative Linda Ryan was volunteering on behalf of the United Way’s Wee Read initiative. She was pleasantly surprised by the turnout and reflected on how McCarthy would think about the success of the event being held in his name.
“I knew Brian McCarthy very well. I think he’d be as shocked as I am. I’m amazed. You know, I walked in the door and just to see the community come together. Everybody, all the faces, all the grown-ups, it’s really an amazing thing. It is great,” Ryan said.
The Family STEM Day is the BSMM Foundation’s way of continuing McCarthy’s legacy of inspiring curiosity, encouraging exploration, and bringing people of all ages together to engage in the wonder of STEM. Since their founding, they have funded over $84,000 in scholarships, donations, and grants benefiting 20 scholarship recipients, 1,754 Nashua students, 38 STEM projects, and 21 local schools and organizations.
