STEM Progress^SM—Making advances one class at a time

In 2010, as a participant in Progressive’s ideation program called Edison, IT Programmer Geoff Willingham proposed teaching science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills in local schools using insurance concepts.

The proposal planted a seed that sprouted in 2011, as Geoff and a project team brought Progressive’s STEM Progress^SM program into being.

Through this program, volunteers present fun, interactive class modules to students. Each module emphasizes a particular STEM skill within the context of insurance to help students see its real-life application.

Our first module, developed in 2011, involves math skills and explains the insurance concepts of risk and probability. Students play a driving game where they collect data and plot results on a graph. They look for specific risk-related trends that can affect insurance rates.

“I enjoy seeing the idea I’m so passionate about come to fruition,” says Geoff. “It’s great that we have the Edison process where employees can share and collaborate on ideas to stimulate creativity and innovation throughout the company.”