Meet Coach Tia

Letia Blanco currently coaches Junior State Science & Technology Fair of Iowa (SSTFI), FIRST LEGO League Invention Convention.  Letia founded Design Your World (DYW) in 2012 and more than 1,300 kids have participated in DYW STEM Conferences, Electronics Fashion Camp and Secret Life of Robots Camp, Magic Pets Robotics, FIRST LEGO League and Invention Convention.  

Letia holds a patent for a nanoparticulate delivery system “smart bandage”, she has presented at multiple technical symposia. She was the 2018 international winner of the Society of Women Engineers Distinguished New Engineer Award and she won 40 under 40 for the Corridor Business Journal in 2023.

She works as a Value Stream Leader at one of the largest aerospace companies in the world and she is a mother of two beautiful little girls who are now learning to be inventors themselves!