The Center

The Western Colorado Math & Science Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit, organization that was founded by John McConnell (see John’s story below). The Center operates with a small, employed staff and a large group of dedicated volunteers who bring math and science alive for our visitors. The Center is currently housed in a New Emerson School, thanks to the generosity of Mesa County School District 51. Over 68,000 students on scheduled field trips, and many families have visited since the Center opened in January 2000.

The Math & Science Center has evolved from its earliest beginnings as a volunteer effort by John McConnell with one class at Wingate Elementary School.  Over a period of nine years, John volunteered his time to teach scientific principles to kids through hands-on demonstrations that he created. The effort quickly became a traveling road show, with John carrying the demonstrations from school to school in the trunk of his car, going out for over 100 miles, with an ever increasing audience.  It was during these early years that the project was given the acronym SITHOK, which stands for “Science In The Hands Of Kids”.   After reaching about 5,000 students per year from the car, John asked the Mesa Valley School District 51 school administration for space for the math and science center, which they granted.

The idea was to put the basic elements of science out on tables for students and adults to investigate hands-on.  A majority of the stations and exhibits have been constructed in John McConnell’s home workshop, some were purchased, and others were constructed by several of our great volunteers. We are constantly changing and adding displays.

The Riverview Science Park  opened in the fall of 2003. It is a 5.5 acre outdoor science park going down to the Colorado River.   In addition to hands-on exhibits, the Center provides training and resources for teachers, summer and after-school camps, and other learning experiences for students of all ages. 

 A partnership relationship with the CU-Boulder College of Engineering and Applied Science, allows CU engineering students to work at the Center during the summer, and provides stipends for Mesa State College students to work as Fellows at the Center during the school year, as well as during the summer.  These students play an important role at the Center, developing exhibits, doing outreach, organizing camps and teaching classes.

Funding for the Center’s activities comes from a variety of sources, including generous donors, grants, fees, and partnerships with other organizations.

Who Is John McConnell?

 “A Celebration of Commitment to Math, to Science and to Young Minds”

 After 30 years of working as a physicist at the Ames and Los Alamos National Laboratories, John retired to Grand Junction in 1990.  Rather than retire in the literal sense, he embarked on a new life challenge as an educator and mentor of Western Colorado K - 12 students of math and science.

Taking the initiative to bring more math and science into local schools, he developed sophisticated hands-on experiments and interactive presentations, which he carted around in the trunk of his car and presented to students and teachers.  As the popularity of his program flourished, he outgrew his mobile laboratory and established the Western Colorado Math and Science Center.  This unique facility contains more than 160 exhibits and hands-on displays, a 5.5 acre science park which annually enriches the science and math education of thousands of Colorado students and teachers.  John has never accepted monetary payment for his efforts.

John has mentored many students, including Ryan Patterson who is now a Senior Scientist with Lockheed Martin in the Denver area. Ryan was one of the most sought after high school students in 2002 and was the winner of national awards for the invention of a glove that translates American Sign Language into written words on a digital display.

An alumnus of Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, John began his career as a physicist at the Ames Laboratory at Iowa State University where he worked from 1960-1974. He spent the next 16 years at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico working on linear accelerator projects of national significance.

John has been honored at the local, state and national level for his outstanding public service, teaching and mentoring future engineers and scientists. He has received numerous awards in the last decade including the Corporation for Public Service Award (one of only seven in the nation), the Governor’s Colorado Cares Volunteer Service Award for education, the United States Department of Education John Stanford Education Heroes Award (one of ten in the nation), and the Points of Light Award.

The Board of Regents of the University of Colorado awarded the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, to John McConnell in May 2004 in recognition of his exceptional commitment to K - 12 math and science education in Colorado.