Special to 1808Delaware
Buckeye Valley Middle School will be awarded a $5000 classroom grant to expand STEM learning projects through Ohio STEM Learning Network Classroom Grant Program, funded by Battelle. The school’s grant is one of 233 issued this fall to create sustainable, STEM learning projects.
The grant will cover the cost of three raised garden beds, one of which will be handicap accessible. It will also cover an additional grow tower and a green energy machine. Buckeye Valley will be adding benches to the area for outside learning. All vegetables grown over the summer in the garden will be donated to the BV East Food Pantry. This is an agricultural pathway and career awareness initiative being presented to the BV 7th and 8th grade STEM students. The goal of the BV initiative is to develop awareness of agricultural careers, pathways into the high school ag program and possible FFA interests.
The grant was written by Buckeye Valley Middle School Teacher, Julie Spaulding and Robert Nidermeyer from the ESC of Central Ohio.
“This grant will provide another layer of experience and opportunity to all the students of BVMS. We began our STEM initiative as a lab that introduced the ‘5 Step Innovation Process’ in the fall of 2022. This school year, we added an additional component with a new course focused on Engineering and Design. The grant from Batelle will provide additional opportunities, specifically an agricultural pathway, which can align to future experiences at the high school level and beyond,” explained Dr. Matt Gallatin, Buckeye Valley Middle School Principal.
In total, 161 public schools join Buckeye Valley in winning the award. The program reached students in one of every seven school districts (130) across 60 Ohio counties.
“Every student should have access to the kind of quality STEM education that drives opportunity for families and leads to new jobs in their local communities” said Kelly Gaier Evans, Director of the Ohio STEM Learning Network. “This program connects champions of STEM in local communities to a broad and deep network of STEM schools, STEM resources, and peer-educators.”
The grant program fosters the growth of the Ohio STEM Learning Network as a public-private partnership between Battelle and the State of Ohio. Ensuring all students develop the skills to be successful in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields is Battelle’s top philanthropic priority.
“Battelle is proud to invest in expanding the reach of the Ohio STEM Learning Network, the state’s primary vehicle for advancing STEM across Ohio,” said Wes Hall, Vice President of Philanthropy & Education. “These grants empower educators in all corners of the state to shape the next generation of solvers.”
Awarded classrooms will receive grants of as much as $5,000.
Educators interested in future awards for the program or other supports for STEM education from the Ohio STEM Learning Network can sign up here. A complete list of awarded schools is available at this link.
About the Ohio STEM Learning Network
The Ohio STEM Learning Network is committed to helping the State of Ohio inspire and train the next generation of innovative leaders. The network operates as a public-private partnership between the Ohio Department of Education and Battelle.
About Battelle
Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org.
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