The Idaho STEM Action Center announced Wednesday it has awarded grants up to $1,000 each to 36 educational organizations throughout Idaho to support family friendly science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) events in their communities.
The STEM Center received 44 applications and awarded 36 grants. Total funds awarded exceed $34,000, officials said.
This is the second round of grants the STEM Center has distributed. It awarded 23 pre-kindergarten-through-high school grants totaling more than $48,000 in January to schools, libraries and such non-profit organizations as the Boys and Girls Clubs.
The Idaho STEM Action Center was approved during the 2015 legislative session to help produce a competitive workforce by implementing K-through-career science, technology, engineering and math education programs aligned with industry needs.
During the 2016 session, the Idaho Legislature set the STEM Action Center’s ongoing annual budget at $2.4 million, appropriated $2 million into a STEM Education Fund to help start up local STEM programs, and approved the addition of a computer science program manager to oversee the Computer Science Initiative.
“It’s an exciting time to be involved in STEM education in Idaho,” said Angela Hemingway, the STEM Action Center’s executive director. “We’re thrilled to be able to help three dozen organizations throughout the state implement innovative plans for engaging their families and communities in STEM-related activities with this latest round of grants.
“Events that get kids and families interested in STEM learning are critical to the STEM Action Center and to Idaho’s long-term economic success,” Hemingway said. “Bringing STEM awareness to students and families is essential to ensure that more Idahoans have the opportunity to experience hands-on, project-based STEM in their community. These STEM Events grants will allow families to engage with educators and industry while they have fun learning more about STEM in the community.”
The grant recipients are:
Ada Community Library’s Hidden Springs and Lake Hazel branches (Boise)
Aberdeen Middle School (Aberdeen), Alameda Middle School (Pocatello)
Barbara Morgan STEM Academy (Meridian), Bear Lake County Library (Montpelier)
Burley Junior High School (Burley)
Canyon Elementary Science Magnet School (Cataldo)
Culdesac School (Culdesac)
Discovery Center of Idaho (Boise)
Dora Erickson Elementary (Idaho Falls)
Falcon Ridge Public Charter School (Kuna)
Fernan STEM Academy (Coeur d’Alene)
Garfield Elementary School (Boise)
Genesee Joint School #282 (Genesee)
Girl Scouts of Silver Sage Council (Boise)
Glenns Ferry Public Library (Glenns Ferry)
Hansen Elementary School (Hansen)
Heritage Middle School (Meridian)
Horizons’ Lifestyle and Education Team and Valley County Astronomical Society collaboration (Cascade)
Idaho Public Television (Boise)
J. Russell Elementary School (Moscow)
Kuna Public Library (Kuna)
Marsing School District (Marsing)
Mentoring Youth Supporting Teens (McCall)
Mountain Lily Discovery Center (St. Maries)
North Bingham County District Library (Shelley)
Parma Learning Center (Parma), Payette Children’s Forest (McCall)
Pepper Ridge Elementary (Boise)
Sacajawea Elementary School (Caldwell)
Snowdon Wildlife Sanctuary (McCall)
Southside Elementary School (Cocolalla)
UI STEM Access Upward Bound (Moscow)
Syringa Middle School (Caldwell)
Vision Charter School (Caldwell)
