CLEVELAND (July 29, 2022) – Great Lakes Science Center will celebrate its 25th anniversary, and an entire generation of bringing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to life for Northeast Ohioans, on August 20 with a black tie fundraiser event presented by Swagelok.
 
The special 25th anniversary celebration also features the return of the Science Center’s Ion Awards, honoring community leaders who transformed big dreams into reality. This year’s Ion Award honorees are Dr. Jeannette Grasselli Brown, Margot J. Copeland, Richard W. Pogue, Esq., and William R. Seelbach. The inaugural Ion Awards were given out in 2020.
 
The event runs from 7-11 p.m. on Saturday, August 20 with activities throughout the museum and its lakefront decks including food stations and craft cocktail bars, photo opportunities, larger than life STEM demonstrations, activities provided by NASA’s Glenn Research Center that will inspire you to explore the secrets of the universe and new technologies to make for unforgettable experiences. Guests also will be able to choose how their support will impact local youth through a unique giving station. The Ion Awards will be presented at 8:45 p.m.
 
“Swagelok and Great Lakes Science Center have a shared passion for encouraging Northeast Ohio students to pursue STEM-based careers, including in modern manufacturing,” said Chris Miklich, chief financial officer for Swagelok Company and a member of the Science Center’s Board of Directors. “We are honored to join the Science Center in celebrating this important milestone and its tremendous impact in championing STEM programming.”
 
“In its first 25 years, the Science Center has welcomed more than 10 million guests, provided free museum access to hundreds of thousands of students at Title I-eligible schools and educated tens of thousands of children through Camp Curiosity programs,” said Science Center President & CEO Kirsten Ellenbogen. “And this is just the beginning as we look toward the future and build the next generation of STEM in Northeast Ohio.”
 
Tickets to the event are $250 per person and include complimentary valet parking and all of the evening’s festivities. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit GreatScience.com/25.
 
(The 25th anniversary celebration is also supported by Ohio CAT, the Cleveland Guardians, and KeyBank.)
 
About Swagelok
Our presenting sponsor Swagelok Company is a leading solutions provider of fluid system products, assemblies, and related services for the semiconductor, oil and gas and clean energy industries and is one of the largest employers of manufacturing talent in Northeast Ohio.
 
About Great Lakes Science Center
Great Lakes Science Center, a top three finisher in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award for Best Science Museum, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2022. The Science Center is home to the NASA Glenn Visitor Center and makes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) come alive for more than 300,000 visitors a year through hundreds of hands-on exhibits, temporary exhibitions, the Cleveland Clinic DOME Theater, historic Steamship William G. Mather, daily science demonstrations, seasonal camps, and more. The Science Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit institution, is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Visit GreatScience.com for more information.