STEM Forward with Katie Ledecky

Despite being a three-time Olympian, seven-time Olympic gold medalist and a 15-time world champion who has broken 14 different world records, Katie Ledecky’s first love has always been education. Rooted in her family’s values, she credits the skills she’s learned from her studies – focus, determination, constant improvement – as a major factor of her success in the water.

Sharing a passion for education has always been a major focus in Katie’s life, even while she’s busy breaking swimming records. In fact, she has long been a proponent of STEM education in particular, which she says is foundational to addressing the challenges our society faces.

It’s also a great opportunity for young people. Employment in STEM fields has grown 79% since 1990, versus 34% for overall job creation. The typical STEM worker now earns two-thirds more than non-STEM workers on average. This is why Katie and Panasonic – along with Discovery Education – have come together to expand access to STEM education for young students through the STEM Forward program.

Winning with STEM

Announced at CES 2022, STEM Forward combines Katie Ledecky’s passion for STEM education and advocacy, Panasonic’s legacy of innovation, and Discovery Education’s worldwide leadership in edtech. The program connects students in grades 3-8 to the game-changing power of technology with standards-aligned resources for any learning environment at no cost.

As part of STEM Forward, Katie – along with Panasonic and Discovery Education – will be hosting a virtual field trip, Winning with STEM, that will give students access to five of Panasonic’s Innovation Centers across North America. During Winning with STEM, students will have the opportunity to see how Panasonic works to develop innovative technology solutions that help to make the world a better place for all.