The Orwin Carter

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Grant

These grants are funded by resources from the estate of Orwin Carter and gifts given in his honor. Orwin was a longtime member of Stillwater Sunrise Rotary until his passing in January 2025. Orwin was a very successful businessman, holding positions in management with Rohm and Haas, Becton Dickinson, as a Managing Director for Amersham, and as the CEO of INCStar, now Diasorin, in Stillwater. In his later years he served as the CFO of Hamline University and as a visiting professor at Wisconsin – River Falls. 

Objective:

The fund resources are to be used to support STEM classes for teens in the St. Croix Valley, so that young people that might not otherwise have visibility of these fields will gain exposure to technology career opportunities. The supported programs shall perpetuate Orwin’s demonstrated values of personal integrity, self-improvement, sound business practices and encouragement for regional economic development.

2025:

The 2025 recipient was FamilyMeans Cimarron Teen Center for a project to purchase computers for the STEM education program there. Three laptops were purchased and on July 1 they were deployed by their two student system administrators that our volunteer supports. In 2024-25 the volunteer-facilitated STEM program was “Environmental Science”, and 29 students completed 118 badges (classes). For 2025-26 the program is “Digital Citizen”, helping Cimarron teens learn about living safe and ethical online lives.