New Glenview STEM Business Features Method Designed By Northwestern Professor

GLENVIEW, IL — STEMagine, a new business in the Glen Town Center, believes every child has the potential to be a creator, inventor and future leader. Co-founded by Dr. Kristine Zlatkovic, of Northwestern, and Arevik Ohanyan, the tech playground and learning center is geared for kids between the ages of 5 and 16.

"Children learn with technology, expand their imagination and creativity, and dive into how to build real tech," said Lauren Svendsen, membership and events manager at the Glenview Chamber of Commerce, which recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1869 Tower Drive. "Each student follows a customized learning pathway based on their background and needs, exploring building, coding, design thinking, and more."

Eventually, when the students are ready, they team up on a capstone project — such as a driverless car, a Mars rover, or a smart home. According to STEMagine, the journey culminates in a mini Shark Tank showcase where kids present their projects, earn certificates, and build their digital portfolios.

This unique method was designed by Zlatkovic, who teaches business communication, design thinking, and learning technologies at Northwestern University and the University of Florida.

The mission of STEMagine is to provide a nurturing environment where imagination meets technology, and where young minds can flourish through hands-on, project-based learning.

Programs currently offered at STEMagine include:

• STEMagine Young Explorer (ages 5 to 7) — A playful and hands-on introduction to STEM designed for early learners, combining storytelling, creative coding, robotics, and beginner-friendly AI to spark imagination.
• STEMagine Junior Innovator (ages 8 to 10) — A hands-on and skills-building level where students continue exploring STEM by designing digital games, programming smart robots, and working with 3D modeling.
• STEMagine Next-Gen Builder (ages 10 to 13) — An advanced and challenge-driven level where students apply design thinking to create real-world simulations, train AI models, and expand their skills in coding and 3D modeling.
• STEMagine Tech Visionary (ages 12 to 16) — A leadership-focused and innovation-driven level where students lead advanced AI and robotics projects, develop original games, and apply entrepreneurial thinking.

In addition, STEMagine has camps offering seasonal and monthly themes, and participates in competitions and showcases. It is open from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends.

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