Provided by 66 EMP
Imagine you’re a scholar attending faculty in Prince William County. You’ve all the time been fascinated by high-tech devices – and the science that makes them work.
Now think about the unimaginable benefits of getting to experiment with that expertise hands-on, exploring the scientific, technological, and engineering ideas behind the newest and best developments.
For a whole lot of college students throughout Northern Virginia, local nonprofit and 66 Express community partner Pink Space Theory makes these advantageous experiences a actuality.
Pink Space Theory is a cellular STEM-focused academic outreach group offering “maker spaces” wherein college students can “create, invent, tinker, explore, and solve real-world challenges” by leveraging their rising information of science, expertise, engineering, artwork, and arithmetic. Founded by president and CEO Monica Nichols, Pink Space Theory presents a spread of participating workshops and packages focusing on college students from kindergarten by way of highschool.
“Our motto is ‘Creating space for the love of learning’ and that perfectly describes our mission,” Ms. Nichols stated. “We work every day to provide students with fun, unique, engaging learning opportunities that inspire them to want to learn more.”
One of these studying alternatives, a program referred to as Game Changineer, teaches children computational pondering by way of online game design. Another initiative, referred to as G.R.E.A.T. Math Minds, helps ladies cope with and overcome math anxiousness.
And a 3rd, Make Tech Pink, encourages ladies from deprived communities to develop their information of laptop coding and technical expertise by controlling a robotic ball by the identify of Sphero.
“We love watching kids gain more and more confidence in their knowledge and skills in STEM fields,” Ms. Nichols continued. “It’s well worth the time, energy, and expense required to provide these mobile maker spaces at no cost to schools across the region. But we rely on valuable corporate partners such as I-66 EMP to impact as many students as we do.”
The 66 Express Supports STEM Education in Northern Virginia
The relationship between Pink Space Theory and I-66 Express Mobility Partners, the builder and operator of the 66 Express Outside the Beltway between I-495 in Fairfax County and Gainesville in Prince William County, started in the summer time of 2024.
The nonprofit was set to launch its Make Tech Pink program for the upcoming tutorial yr, and I-66 EMP stepped up with a $6,500 donation to help fund the students’ hands-on experiential learning with the Sphero robot ball.
In November 2024, a bunch of college students visited I-66 EMP headquarters in Manassas to design their very own snowplows and find out how STEM rules apply to winter street upkeep.
The following February, the roadway operator teamed up with Pink Space Theory to Make Tech Pink once more, sending a panel of specialists to Swans Creek Elementary School in Dumfries on Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day. The college students confirmed off their newest STEM initiatives and took half in a Highway Interchange Design workshop.
I-66 EMP bolstered its staunch dedication to supporting STEM training by contributing $10,000 to the Make Tech Pink program in July 2025.
Just not too long ago, in December 2025, the 66 Express operator held its second annual area journey for Pink Space Theory, once more welcoming an unimaginable group of fourth and fifth grade ladies from Swans Creek Elementary for a day of hands-on exploration. From constructing snowplows and testing them in simulated snow, to studying the science behind winter climate and how roadways are safely plowed, college students skilled STEM ideas in motion. They even stepped into the identical simulator expertise utilized by 66 Express plow operators, making use of problem-solving expertise to real-world transportation challenges.
Combining the impression Pink Space Theory has made on hundreds of college students all through Northern Virginia with I-66 EMP’s dedication to supporting STEM-focused studying, the partnership between the academic non-profit and the roadway operator has rather more to come.
“We’re delighted to say that Pink Space Theory is one of our strongest and most productive partnerships in the community,” stated Nancy H. Smith, company affairs director for I-66 EMP. “By emphasizing the importance of STEM education – one of the foundational pillars of our community outreach – Pink Space Theory is creating a brighter future for students all around Northern Virginia.”