Grantee Spotlight: STEM, Space, and Small-Town Spark | NearSpace Education Takes Learning to New Levels
Ball Brothers Foundation staff recently visited NearSpace Education in Upland, Indiana—a nonprofit that’s turning heads with its hands-on, high-flying approach to STEM education. From launching weather balloons into the stratosphere to equipping classrooms with aerospace kits, NearSpace is making science exciting, tangible, and local right here in rural Indiana.
Through on-site Space Camps both in Upland and Florida, classroom partnerships, and collaborations with colleges across the Midwest, NearSpace helps students of all ages understand how STEM connects to real-world opportunities—especially in fields like aerospace, engineering, and advanced manufacturing.
In 2024, Ball Brothers Foundation awarded a Rapid Grant to support the launch of NearSpace’s Aerospace Club, a program that engaged Upland-area middle schoolers in designing gliders, building rockets, and earning drone certifications. The program emphasized both technical and teamwork skills, and sparked curiosity in students who now see aerospace not just as a subject—but as a future.
BBF’s support of this work is rooted in a shared legacy. For decades, Ball Corporation was a major player in the aerospace sector, designing and manufacturing equipment used by NASA and other agencies. That heritage lives on through BBF’s continued interest in STEM learning and its support for local organizations helping students aim higher.
NearSpace is also one of many partners contributing to Upland’s Main Street Mile Initiative—a collaborative community and economic development program led by Taylor University and local stakeholders to revitalize the Town of Upland. The effort aims to create a walkable, vibrant corridor that connects the University with Upland's downtown, sparking new life through public spaces, community hubs, and small business development. The Initiative will add over one-hundred new units of housing to Upland, as well as a collegiate inn near campus, helping to establish Upland as a hospitality destination.
As part of this work, NearSpace recently opened a new downtown park featuring a splash river, open green space, and a rocket launch pad—bringing STEM and play together in a way that invites families and neighbors to gather, explore, and dream big. This summer, NearSpace Education will move into its new headquarters, a renovated Masonic Lodge in downtown Upland that will feature office space, classrooms, meeting areas, and spaces for interns.
Watch the video below to catch a glimpse of this innovative work in action.
Ball Brothers Foundation’s tie to aerospace education is rooted in a remarkable legacy. While many know Ball Corporation (which was founded by the Ball brothers) for its glass canning jars, the company was also a pioneer in space innovation—designing instruments and spacecraft used by NASA and beyond. That story is captured in From Jars to the Stars: How Ball Came to Build a Comet-Hunting Machine by Todd Neff, available at Minnetrista’s Orchard Shop. It’s a reminder that bold ideas can launch from anywhere—including right here in East Central Indiana.
