Nicollet Public Schools launches new STEM initiative

MSU vice president of Student & Industry Success, Travis Thul, (right) gives a demonstration to a Nicollet Public School student on how the new XPR robots can be used.

Official response and confirmed impact

Photo by Gween Wolters

Nicollet Public Schools officially launched the Rural Experiential STEM Education Partnership Initiative (RESEPI), a Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU) program that brings hands-on robotics, programming, and engineering instruction to rural schools at no cost to the district.

The launch event was attended by Nicollet STEM teacher Alex Medrano; Nicollet Public Schools Dean of Students Sam Cotton; South Central Service Cooperative Career & Technical Education Coordinator Gwenn Wolters; MSU College of Education Dean Mwarumba Mwavita; MSU Vice President for Student & Industry Success Travis Thul; state Representative Erica Schwartz; and Nicollet’s 9th grade STEM education class, who were among the first students to experience the new program.

Through RESEPI, Nicollet received enough STEM education equipment to teach up to 60 students per semester.

The district’s educators were prepared through the summer 2026 train-the-trainer event, led by corporate partner DigiKey.

During the two-week program, Medrano and Cotton competed against other RESEPI teachers, MSU faculty, and engineering students.

After two rounds of competition involving programming, rapid prototyping, and systems engineering, the Nicollet team took first place.