January 8, 2026
On December 17, 2025, educators, students, and community leaders from across Ohio gathered at the Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center in Cambridge for the Appalachian STEM Collaborative & Future Plans/GRIT AI Summit—a dynamic event designed to equip participants with the tools and insights needed to thrive in an AI-driven world. The summit, a cornerstone of Future Plans’ ongoing partnership with the Appalachian STEM Collaborative, showcased hands-on sessions, practical strategies, and a keynote address that left a lasting impression on all in attendance.
Keynote Spotlight: Dr. Wendy Hanasky
The highlight of the event was the keynote by Dr. Wendy Hanasky, CEO of AI Learning Solutions and a nationally recognized leader in Artificial Intelligence in Education. With over 30 years of experience as an educator, administrator, and international consultant—including collaborations with the U.S. Department of State—Dr. Hanasky is celebrated for her practical, accessible approach to integrating AI into classrooms and communities.
Dr. Hanasky’s session, “Generative AI Tools – Power Hour,” offered a comprehensive look at how generative AI is transforming not only teaching and learning but also career pathways and community engagement. She captivated the audience with a pop quiz featuring true/false questions about AI, sparking curiosity and revealing surprising truths about interacting with AI systems.
Insights from the Audience
Sarah Redoutey, Senior Project Manager at Future Plans, reflected on the keynote’s impact:
“All eyes and ears were in attention while Dr. Hanasky shared valuable insights into the world of AI. She especially had the room’s attention when she gave a True-or-False pop quiz. Even as an avid AI user, I surprisingly learned new things.
One quiz question was whether an LLM (Large Language Model) produces better results if you are polite. I personally didn’t think so, but she explained that it does. She also asked whether, if you tell an LLM to take its time and dig deeper, it will give you better results. I thought an LLM would pretty much give you the same results whether you asked it to take its time or not. But it turns out patience pays off. LLMs will provide you with better answers and can dig deeper if you prompt them to do so.” — Sarah Redoutey, Future Plans
Practical Takeaways for Educators
Dr. Hanasky’s keynote didn’t just inspire—it empowered. Attendees left with actionable strategies for integrating AI into their educational programs, from leveraging generative AI tools for lesson planning and student engagement to understanding the importance of thoughtful, well-crafted prompts when working with AI systems. Her expertise and practical tips are set to accelerate Future Plans’ mission to build technical capacity among educators and prepare learners for the opportunities of tomorrow.
Continuing the Mission
The AI Summit is part of a broader commitment by Future Plans and the Appalachian STEM Collaborative to expand high-quality STEM education and workforce readiness across Ohio’s Appalachian region. Through quarterly events and robust summer workforce training programs, these organizations support educators, empower students, and build pathways to achievement and community prosperity.
For more information about upcoming events and resources, visit the Appalachian STEM Collaborative Events page or explore the latest news at Future Plans.
