Energy company and foundation award innovation grants to schools in region
Schools in Washington and Greene counties received Innovation Grants from Chevron and Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation to support and expand cutting-edge education programs.
All told, 37 schools were given the grants, which total close to $175,000. Schools in Fayette County and West Virginia were also grant recipients.
The grants seek to encourage school districts, primarily in rural communities, to develop programs and curriculum with innovation and design at their core.
Twenty projects in 13 school districts across Washington, Greene and Fayette counties will receive close to $96,000 for initiatives aimed at topics including digital design, girls in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics, coding, robotics and hydroponics.
Stacy Olson, president of Chevron Appalachia, said in a news release, “We’re proud to support innovative teachers and school districts that are developing creative solutions to improve STEM education opportunities for children throughout our region.”
Chevron and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation funded the Innovation Grants as part of the Appalachia Partnership Initiative, a multi-year alliance established with an initial $20 million commitment from Chevron that seeks to strengthen economic and education environments by supporting long-term STEM and technical training programs.
The schools that received the grants are:
- Waynesburg Central Elementary School for “STEAMing Up the smART Space,” $5,000.
- Mapletown Junior/Senior High School for “Career Readiness Graphic Design,” $3,000.
- West Greene High School for “21st Century Engineering, Automation and Manufacturing for Classroom Production,” $5,000.
- West Greene High School for “Genius Hour and the High School English Classroom,” $5,000.
- Avella Elemetary/ Middle School for “Career Ready: More Than Just Robots,” $5,000.
- Bethlehem-Center Elementary School for “I Traveled Across the World and All I Got Was This Souvenir,” $5,000.
- Burgettstown Middle/High School for “Girls of STEAM,” $5,000.
- Burgettstown Middle/High School for “(MS)%5E2 Club,” $4,995.
- Allison Park Elementary School for “STEM/STEAM Outdoor Music Exploration Classroom,” $5,000.
- Trinity High School for “3D Design: Virtual to Reality,” $4,203.