On September 30, nine-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky traded her swim cap for a lab coat and made a splash, not in the pool, but in the classroom. Ledecky, who holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Stanford University, visited Unified School District 232’s Cedar Trails Exploration Center (CTEC) Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) in Lenexa, KS. There, she shared her own experiences with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) fields while learning how USD 232 students are also being educated in those areas. It was more than a meet-and-greet; it was a hands-on, heart-forward push to inspire the next generation of STEAM leaders.
As part of a collaboration with Panasonic that began in 2018, Ledecky spent time with high school students, diving into bioscience experiments and robotics demos. She didn’t just observe – she participated. From swabbing cell phones for bacteria to learning how to read blood pressure and a titration pipette, Ledecky was fully immersed in the student experience.
Students like Ethan Austin, a senior at Mill Valley High School, had the rare opportunity to mentor an Olympian. "Being able to actually sit down and work with her, teach her how to do things she’s probably never done before – it was very interesting," he said.
"Education has always been really important to me," Ledecky shared. "In swimming, I developed this love of math. I was always calculating pace times and running numbers in my head. I also had some really great science teachers growing up that inspired me."
Her message to students was clear: passion and perseverance go hand in hand.
"If you find something that you really, really love, try to be the very best you can be at it – whether that’s in the science lab or in the pool or on the field," she said.
The visit was part of Panasonic’s broader mission to support STEAM education in communities near its new $4 billion EV battery plant in De Soto, KS. Panasonic has partnered with USD 232 a number of times since breaking ground on the site in 2022. Sam Ruff, the school district’s director of post-secondary success, said, "We appreciate the partnership with Panasonic that has allowed Katie Ledecky to be here. Opportunities for our students to engage and speak with and learn from someone who’s inspiring, certainly, is just really appreciated."
Julie Sailors, Panasonic senior manager of government and community affairs, emphasized the impact of Ledecky’s presence:
"Katie is so passionate about STEAM education and is invested in the future and inspiring kids. She doesn’t have to do things like this, and she actually really enjoys it."
And as for Panasonic’s plans for further collaboration with the district and other educational institutions in the region, Sailors added:
"We’re just getting started. Groundbreaking was about three years ago. We just produced our millionth battery a couple of weeks ago, but we’ll be here for generations."
Ledecky’s visit was more than a celebrity moment – it was a catalyst for curiosity, a celebration of learning, and a reminder that excellence in any field starts with opportunity and encouragement.
"I finished high school, I finished college, but that doesn’t prevent me from continuing to learn," Ledecky said. "I always learn from middle schoolers and high schoolers when I have these kinds of opportunities. It goes both ways. I feel inspired and really excited about the future of our country and the world when I see how excited young students are to learn."