BrainSTEM University

BrainSTEM University was founded by Ricky Mason, a former rocket scientist and engineer born and raised right here in Louisville. His journey into STEM began in the 5th grade, when he met an engineer who saw his potential and changed the trajectory of his life. That one moment of inspiration sparked a lifelong passion — and BrainSTEM University was created to pass that spark on to the next generation.

Ricky Mason at NASA, standing at the base of a rocket launch pad

At BrainSTEM, we believe exposure leads to inspiration. Our goal is to introduce students to real engineers, scientists, game developers, and tech mentors who can open their eyes to what’s possible. We provide hands-on, career-connected STEM education to students from underserved communities — through summer camps, after-school programs, and now, our newest initiative: the BrainSTEM League — a community-wide STEM sports league featuring robotics, drone racing, and coding competitions.

We're proud to partner with schools, churches, and nonprofit organizations across the city to offer Louisville’s most comprehensive and technologically advanced STEM programming. In 2025 alone, we’ve served over 130 students through immersive experiences like 3D printing, virtual reality, drone flight, and video game design — and we’re just getting started.

Our goal is to raise $50,000 through Give for Good Louisville. These funds will directly support:

• Summer camp scholarships for families who need them most

• Equipment and team support for our robotics team

• Expansion of our after-school programs across more neighborhoods

Your gift helps us remove financial barriers and bring high-impact STEM opportunities to more students across Louisville.

Support BrainSTEM University and help shape the future — one student at a time.