Full STEAM Ahead: Built by Dedicated Dreamers, Fueled by Wonder

At the Grand Forks Children’s Museum, Full STEAM Ahead is more than a pop-up museum, it’s a promise of possibility. This hands-on exhibit-in-the-making is bursting with science, technology, engineering, art, and math (plus a healthy dose of “wow!”). It’s designed to get kids thinking, building, experimenting, and asking big questions—like “What if?” and “Why not?” Behind every pulley, paintbrush, and prototype are the people who make the magic happen: the tinkerers, thinkers, planners and builders who believe that learning should feel like a fun adventure.

Full STEAM Ahead wouldn’t be possible without a crew of wildly creative, endlessly curious, and slightly paint-splattered, dedicated enthusiasts who bring it all to life. These are the spark starters, imagination architects, and joy technicians who work with educators, and planners and dream up the exhibits, test the experiments (sometimes with glitter explosions), and make sure every detail invites kids to dive in and explore. Whether they’re sketching blueprints, sorting gears, or asking “What if we made it bigger?,” this team turns everyday materials into extraordinary experiences—and they do it all with heart, humor, dedication and a whole lot of duct tape.

Let’s meet the dedicated dreamers who make Full STEAM Ahead happen:

Alyssa Donacki: Frontline Force, Team Spark

Last year, Alyssa brought her talent and heart to the museum as a contract team member. This year, she’s at the helm, driving impact with purpose and poise. Her leap from behind-the-scenes support to front-line leadership, speaks volumes about her dedication, creativity, and the trust she’s earned. As the lead architect behind Full STEAM Ahead 2025, Alyssa brings boundless energy, thoughtful planning, vision and a knack for turning big ideas into hands-on magic. She’s the connector-in-chief, reaching out to educators, university partners, crafters, and designers to make sure every piece of the exhibit sparks curiosity and joy. With Alyssa at the helm, Full STEAM Ahead is not just growing—it’s glowing.

Dean Opp: Visionary, Builder, Believer

If imagination had a mascot, it might just be Dean Opp. A retired teacher and co-founder of the beloved Summer Performing Arts (SPA) program, Dean serves as a board member and guiding light for the Grand Forks Children’s Museum. He’s one of the driving forces behind the museum’s future home and a champion of Full STEAM Ahead, bringing vision, creativity, and a healthy dose of fun to every step of the journey. Whether he’s brainstorming exhibit ideas or rallying support, Dean reminds us that big dreams—and big laughs—belong at the heart of every great project.

Miss Robin: Where Art Meets Imagination

When it comes to blending creativity with community, Robin Riveland is pure magic. Miss Robin doesn’t just create exhibits, she creates worlds. As a renowned local artist and founder of Airoso Music Academy, she brings a symphony of talent to the Grand Forks Children’s Museum. Now in her fourth year with the pop-up museum, Miss Robin continues to dazzle with hands-on experiences that spark curiosity and joy. Last year, she dreamed up a dinosaur bone dig that turned kids into paleontologists, and designed a medical exhibit complete with real x-rays that invited young minds to explore the science of healing. Whether she’s painting, building, or imagining what’s next, Miss Robin reminds us that learning is most powerful when it feels like play. Miss Robin’s creative genius is woven into every corner of our pop-up museum—from musical marvels to art-infused experiments that make STEAM sing. Her exhibits don’t just teach—they enchant- inviting kids to explore, express, and dream out loud.

Johnathan Repoyo: Early Ed Nerd, Joy Wrangler

Johnathan brings over a decade of early childhood expertise to Full STEAM Ahead, where he’s helping to shape the future of our youngest learners. With a deep belief in the power of play and hands-on exploration, Johnathan collaborates across the exhibits to ensure our spaces and programming are welcoming, enriching, and developmentally attuned for children from birth to age 10. His passion for joyful learning shines through in every interaction. Through his pop-up playgroup initiative, Brainy Ink, Johnathan has created flexible, play-based experiences that spark curiosity and strengthen caregiver-child bonds. His work is a testament to the idea that lifelong learning begins with wonder.

Katie Mayer: Leading with Heart, Building with Purpose

Katie Mayer knows what it takes to spark a love of learning and she’s bringing that wisdom to every corner of the Grand Forks Children’s Museum. A former teacher and school principal, Katie now serves as the museum’s executive director, guiding its growth with vision, grit, and a whole lot of heart. She’s the boss (and yes, the team says that with admiration), overseeing Full STEAM Ahead and the museum’s future with the perfect blend of educator insight and community spirit. Whether she’s rallying partners, shaping strategy, raising money or jumping in to help with an exhibit, Katie leads with the belief that every child deserves a space to wonder, explore, and thrive.

Full STEAM Ahead 2025 isn’t just a program—it’s a groundswell of creativity and collaboration, made possible by the passionate educators, fearless leaders, and visionary volunteers who bring it to life. From Katie’s steady guidance to Alyssa’s rising leadership, to Dean’s wondrous imagination to Miss Robin who sees the world through a child’s eyes and turns that wonder into immersive, hands-on exhibits that spark curiosity to Jonathon's development of that 'aha' moment…every person involved shares a commitment to curiosity, inclusion, and community impact. Their dedication is woven into every detail, every exhibit, and every moment of wonder. Together, they are not just building a mini pop-up museum…they are shaping a future where every child feels seen, inspired, and empowered to dream big.

Katie Mayer, Executive Director, Grand Forks Children's Museum