CBC High School

Josh was a 1997 graduate of CBC High School in St. Louis and a 2002 graduate of the University of Missouri Engineering School. He worked in the engineering field in various capacities before ultimately partnering with a colleague in a Cast Stone company called Caliber based in O’Fallon, MO. In his spare time, Josh loved honing his craft by spending countless hours working on his motorcycles, designing and building various projects, and just tinkering in general.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education was somewhat incongruous and "maker" learning was still in its infancy in the nineties, when Josh was in high school and college. If it had been a focus, you can bet Josh would have been fully invested in any programs offered.

For over a decade, CBC High School (Josh’s alma mater) has embraced the emerging focus on STEM learning, and the Josh Seidel Memorial Foundation has been thrilled to be a partner along the way. In 2015, the school surprised the Seidel family by presenting a graduating senior who had demonstrated aptitude and achievement in science and technology curriculum with the Joshua M. Seidel STEM Award. In 2021, a scholarship was added to this annual award.
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JSMF board members and family have become avid fans of the CBC Robotics team, and we have helped them develop their program through many financial contributions. In 2015, JSMF awarded the CBC Robotics Team a $5,000 grant to support the development of the STEM program at CBC and to support activities. The foundation has continued this support annually, and is extremely proud to partner with this growing and successful team.

In the Spring of 2016, JSMF made an additional $10,000 donation to build out and outfit a Makerspace…a dedicated workshop supporting all things STEM related. The space affectionately dubbed “Area 51” is intended to give students an opportunity to innovate, design, test and create. The area includes tools like 3-D printers, laser cutters, and a robotics arena.

In 2017, JSMF supported CBC’s creation of the Innovation Commons. The Innovation Commons offers
more than 8,000 square feet of space to inspire 21st century learning and experimentation. This best-in-
class facility is home to the CBC STEM Academy as well as the Center for Leadership and
Entrepreneurship.

The opportunities that CBC has created with the support of the foundation are spectacular. Our long-
term partnership is a model for success.