Donor Spotlight: PingWind and the Moak Family
As construction continues on the Northern Virginia Science Center, the team has been spotlighting their “Launch the Future” campaign partners on their social media pages and in weekly newsletters. It's been a great tool in helping spread the word and raise awareness of the Science Center, and personally, it has been wonderful hearing the stories of our greatest champions. Recently PingWind’s CEO Aaron Moak was interviewed by Colleen Smith, Director of Advancement, Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation, and featured in their newsletter as a campaign partner and passionate supporter of STEM learning.
How did you first become connected to the Science Center, and what inspired you to get involved?
I was invited to a Founder’s Society luncheon by Board Member Craig Ridley, who I had worked with professionally. What resonated with me was hearing the personal stories of students who had benefited from the Science Center.
Whether through PingWind or the things I do in other aspects of my life (as a part-time professor, Cub Scout den leader, youth sports coach, contributor to the Veteran community), I am very interested in investments that help the next generation be prepared to take over the mantle and solve hard challenges.
Why do you believe STEM education is so important—both for individuals and for society?
Being able to quantitatively and analytically look at situations and problems—having the mindset to find the right data, understand risk and variability, and know how to manage that—has paid value in everything I’ve done in my life.
The ability to trust formulas and data sets to gain insights and make decisions – these are invaluable skills that come from STEM education.
But STEM is a great frame of mind for solving challenges that don’t necessarily fall within science or mathematics too. I’m biased, but I want CEOs, politicians, and lawyers to have STEM backgrounds. I want them to think critically and have good problem-solving methodologies that are rooted in objectivity.
What impact do you hope to make by supporting the Northern Virginia Science Center?
My family looks for ways to give back, specifically for opportunities that make sure children are getting access and encouragement to do well and develop.
There’s a lot of focus on national issues right now, but that detracts a bit from people’s engagement in local communities. If we can support something like the Science Center in our own community and make one or two children that much more objective or science-based, they may go on and do great things in our region.
Exposure to a slightly different frame of thinking about things can be powerful when it adds up over time. I really do think it’s in all of society's best interest if the younger generation has a lot more exposure to STEM principles, STEM frameworks, and STEM ways of thinking.
