On September 18, more than 700 guests gathered at Tulsa Tech’s Riverside Campus to celebrate the 12th annual Flight Night, an evening dedicated to advancing STEM education and honoring the incredible educators who inspire young minds across Oklahoma.

This year’s “Space Cowboy” theme captured the spirit of curiosity and exploration that drives innovation—reminding us that the sky is not the limit; it’s just the beginning. The event was chaired by Siegmund “Sig” and Ann Marie Brown, whose leadership and enthusiasm helped make the evening truly unforgettable.

Five outstanding educators were recognized through the Siegfried Excellence in STEM Education Awards, with Vona Cardwell of Claremore Public Schools named Siegfried STEM Educator of the Year. Each of these teachers brings STEM to life in creative, hands-on ways that help students see their own potential in these fields. You can meet all of this year’s awardees on our website.

The generosity of our community shone bright once again—together, we raised nearly $1.1 million to strengthen our STEM ecosystem and support Alliance programs that expand access to high-quality STEM experiences for all youth.

Guests joined in the fun through our raffle and donation drawings, raising even more support for local STEM opportunities. In total, 158 raffle tickets were sold, and the lucky winner was Colin Wetz. It was our highest-grossing night-of-event yet, generating nearly $50,000 in direct donations! These lucky winners took home special prizes:

• 20 Tulsa Drillers baseball tickets in the NORDAM Suite & 4 parking passes – Heath Bringham
  
• 20 FC Tulsa game tickets in the Williams Suite & 2 parking passes – Lindsey & Isaac Helmerich
  
• 4 TU football tickets in the Cox Communications Suite & premium parking pass – Jarrett Turner
  
• Gold Detail and up to 7 days valet parking at Fine Airport Parking – Raleigh Blakemore

We’re deeply grateful to the individuals, companies, and organizations—both across northeast Oklahoma and beyond—who make Flight Night possible each year. Special thanks to our top sponsors: Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies and NORDAM. A full list of sponsors can be found here.

From all of us at TRSA, thank you for helping us fuel the next generation of innovators and dreamers. We can’t wait to celebrate with you again at Flight Night 2026 on Thursday, September 17!

For photos and more event highlights, visit FlightNight.TulsaSTEM.org.