Missouri Military Academy middle school and high school cadets were invited to participate in the 2026 STEM Day at the Missouri Capitol on April 9.

Each year, this signature event brings together hundreds of students, educators, industry leaders and policymakers to celebrate and advocate for STEM education and workforce development across Missouri. STEM Day at the Capitol highlights the critical role science, technology, engineering and mathematics play in strengthening the state’s future talent pipeline.

Accompanied by MMA faculty member Chris Schafer’ 89, 15 MMA cadets — Viraj Malik, Riyadh Avdic, Dean Mitchell-Hilsinger, Eli Mumm, Omar Said Diaz, Carter Cole, Alvaro Orendian, Enkh-Ireedui Altangeral, John Shadonix, Lucas Dias, Emiliano Martinez, Liam Sanchez, Tyler Knight and James Heddell — attended STEM Day. Maj. Michael Pemberton (MMA), science department chair, and Maj. Peggy Reynard (MMA), math department chair, chose the cadets to represent the Academy.

The event was coordinated by the Missouri University of Science and Technology’s Kummer Center for STEM Education. The kickoff speaker was Courteny Jones, founding director of the Kummer Center. Additional speakers included Missouri state Rep. Bennie Cook and Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Kurt Schaefer.

The day’s events included student STEM demonstrations, the first-ever LEGO League Robotics State Challenge, as well as STEM vendors, interactive displays and recognition of STEM students on the House and Senate floors. Cadets observed from the gallery and witnessed floor deliberations on several bills.

Cadets also met with state Rep. Kent Haden, who represents Audrain County, where MMA is located. Haden is sponsoring HB 2307, which would designate MMA as the official military academy of the state of Missouri. He spoke with cadets and asked questions prior to the final bell for roll call on the House floor.

During the visit, cadets were welcomed by staff from the Missouri State Treasurer’s Office. Cadet Viraj Malik, a seventh grader on the trip, is the son of State Treasurer Vivek Malik.

The cadets also enjoyed a guided tour of the Capitol, including a behind-the-scenes look at the dome’s engineering. Cadets first ascended to the Whispering Gallery, the highest interior portion of the dome. There, they observed the structure’s unique acoustics: a whisper on one side of the 100-foot diameter dome can be heard clearly on the opposite side.

They then toured areas behind the dome, where walkways run between the inner and outer shells of the structure, offering views behind the stained glass of the dome and the Senate chamber. The tour continued up a staircase past the 9,000-pound bronze chandelier suspended from the inner shell and ultimately to an observation deck 262 feet above street level, just below the statue of Ceres atop the Capitol.

In total, cadets climbed 202 stairs from the Whispering Gallery to reach the observation deck.