Maggie Ortmeyer, now a junior in college noted that "young girls and women are often not taken seriously when they show an interest in STEM subjects. However, Paul Kaup and STEM+C provided a safe and encouraging outlet for me and the other young girls in our group to explore the field of STEM(+C) as equals. I cannot stress how influential and important that aspect of STEM+C was. . . . the education I received while working with Paul Kaup and STEM+C was not available anywhere else. The information we learned, and the hands-on way in which we learned it, was a unique experience because the many subjects we studied were not being taught in classrooms or other clubs. It was, therefore, an invaluable experience that allowed me to become a more well-rounded student and person."

Some participants have gone on in the aviation and aerospace fields. For instance, recent HS graduate Jake Minker is in the process of getting his FAA pilot certification. Keith Peterfreund reports that "Paul played a major role in my son Jett's dream. Jett always wanted to be a pilot, but I personally didn't have any knowledge on how to become one. I didn’t know where to start or how to start educating him. This is where Paul stepped in and changed the course of my son's life. Paul had Jett join his STEM-C UAV group. He taught Jett and other kids the art of flying. He did this without asking any of the parents to give any money. Paul is the main reason my son is accumulating hours of flight time. Jett is now a part of Discovery Flight in STEM-C. Without STEM-C and Paul Kaup I know my son Jett would not have been where he is today in the early stages of pursuing his dream of being a pilot." Eric Gordon is an Unmanned Aerial System Engineer for an aerospace military defense contractor Desert Rotor. He is also a third year student at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Unmanned Aerial Systems. Eric worked with Paul Kaup and STEM+C for over eight years learning, pursuing enduring challenges, and eventually even teaching students. Many others have gone into engineering as well.

For instance, Zein Sebraoui, a second year Electrical Engineering student at Arizona state University enrolled in the Ira Fulton school of Engineering worked with STEM+C and Paul Kaup for several years in high school. "Those experiences have been by far the most influential experience towards my aviation and engineering career by far." Mr. Glaser reports that his son, Max Glaser, "was been lucky enough to be part of the STEM+C program led by Paul Kaup. Max was part of this program through middle school and high school first as a student and then as an assistant leader. This allowed him to not only gain knowledge in this field, but also leadership experience. Currently, Max has one semester left of mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. While he has not continued with aviation, he has applied much of his knowledge gained in STEM+C working with the formula SAE car at UA."

"My name is Jacob Hoberg, and I’m a rising senior at Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix, Arizona. This past year, I joined a TARC (The American Rocketry Challenge) team led by Paul Kaup of STEM+C. We met an hour away from my house, but the weekly drive was worth it because there are no opportunities like it near me. Paul and the older students are extremely knowledgeable and equipped to help me practice my interest in rocketry. I also enjoyed volunteering at the Taking Flight event to share STEM+C with the community. I am interested in flying and hope to be able to sign up for a discovery flight soon, too. Working with Paul and the team has reinforced my interest in studying engineering at a college like Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott or New Mexico Tech University. I’m currently in an apprenticeship with the AFRL (Air Force Research Laboratories) NM on the NMT campus. I have heard other engineering students in college say that they never had hands-on experience with anything related to engineering, prior to attending college. I am grateful that Paul spends so much of his time and energy providing students in middle and high school an opportunity to have hands-on experience with aviation, aerospace, flight, and robotics, in order for them to get excited about college and a career in those fields."

"My name is Jeff Kapis. I am not an engineer, rather, I am the proud parent of a young adult, Travis Kapis. Travis has always excelled academically, and during his early high school years, he grew to love science and math. At the end of his sophomore year, a friend connected Travis with Paul and through that connection, and subsequent work with Paul’s development group, Travis formed new aspirations to become an aerospace engineer. He is now enrolled in the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University to begin work on his degree in Aerospace Engineering. The work that Paul leads for this group of young, budding engineers is priceless. He has inspired and grown the experience of my own son in ways that I could not have."