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iBall Honoree for Innovation: STEM Greenhouse

Photo courtesy of West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology

The West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology (WMCAT) will recognize three individuals and organizations for their contributions to education, economic development, and community impact at its annual iBall event from 6 to 9 p.m. on March 12 at GLC Live at 20 Monroe.

The WMCAT Award for Innovation will be presented to STEM Greenhouse for its efforts to address educational inequities and expand access to science, technology, engineering, and math learning opportunities. The organization has provided hands-on educational experiences for students across the region for more than a decade. The award is sponsored by Steelcase.

The WMCAT Award for Imagination will be presented to The Right Place, an economic development organization focused on advancing regional growth and workforce development. The organization has partnered with WMCAT’s Adult Career Training Program Cybersecurity Pathway to support workforce preparation and expand access to careers in technology. The award is sponsored by Acrisure.

The WMCAT Award for Inspiration, presented in honor of the late James C. Welch, one of WMCAT’s founding board members, will be awarded to Erion Adams. Adams is an alum of WMCAT’s Teen Arts + Tech and Step Year programs and a former teaching artist. Through her work with WMCAT, CARNEVALE, and Grand Valley State University, Adams has contributed to technology initiatives and community development.

iBall 2026, presented by Meijer, will include dinner, an open bar, and live music by MexiCuba. Proceeds from the event will support WMCAT’s tuition-free education and career training programs. For more information, visit: https://wmcat.org/iball/.

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