Idaho STEM Action Center Grants

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CONTACT:
Angela Hemingway, 208.332.1726, [email protected]
Jon Hanian, 208.334.2100, [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Idaho STEM Action Center awards 109 PK12 grants

BOISE, Idaho (Jan. 11, 2017) — The Idaho STEM Action Center just awarded more than a quarter-million dollars in PK12 grants to education professionals and organizations throughout the state. The grants provide recipients – such as kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers, libraries, and out-of-school organizations – with up to $2,500 each to fund innovative science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer-science projects.

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter said the effort is fueling an array of creative and exciting STEM-learning opportunities.

“The hands-on, project-based activities the STEM Action Center’s grants enable will engage and inspire the scientists, engineers and technicians of tomorrow,” Gov. Otter said. “Experiential learning efforts like these are critical to building Idaho’s future workforce.”

Approved projects range from electronics and robotics, drones and solar cars, and anatomy and physiology equipment like microscopes and plastic models to water-quality testing kits for analyzing fish habitats, camera trap systems for studying birds and mammals, and augmented reality systems to explore earth sciences concepts.

Totaling $253,448.59, the 109 PK12 grants are the first round of awards the STEM Action Center has announced in fiscal year 2017, which began July 1, 2016. During its 2016 fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2016, the agency delivered more than $250,000 in aid to Idaho organizations and individuals to fund STEM efforts, including $50,000 for PK12 grants and $35,000 for family STEM events. Last year’s grants also fueled professional development opportunities for educators, as well as robotics and 3D design and fabrication competitions.

Conceived in the Office of the Governor, 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 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.

Angela Hemingway, the center’s executive director, said it’s an exciting time to be involved in STEM education in Idaho. “STEM knowledge and skills are important to the future of Idaho’s economy and long-term prosperity,” she said. “STEM-related jobs pay well in Idaho, and for each new STEM job five more jobs are created.

“The experiential learning that occurs in these types of STEM activities promotes creative thinking, problem solving, and collaboration — skills even students who don’t pursue STEM careers will find valuable. When Idahoans think STEM, we want them to think Idaho STEM Action Center. Our goal is to make our agency the go-to place in the Gem State for STEM resources, grants, professional development, and student competitions.”

The PK12 grant recipients are:

  • Aberdeen Middle School, Aberdeen
  • Ada Community Library – Hidden Springs Branch, Boise
  • Albertsons Library at Boise State University, Boise
  • Another Choice Virtual Charter School, Nampa
  • Athol Elementary School, Athol
  • Boise Urban Garden School, Boise
  • Borah High School, Boise
  • Burley High School, Burley
  • Caldwell High School, Caldwell
  • Canfield Middle School, Coeur d’Alene (x2)
  • Cascade School District #422, Cascade (x2)
  • Castleford School District #417, Castleford (x2)
  • Centennial Elementary School, Nampa (x2)
  • Compass Academy, Idaho Falls
  • Council High School, Council
  • Dietrich School District #314, Dietrich
  • East Bonner County Library District, Sandpoint
  • Emmett Middle School, Emmett
  • Falcon Ridge Charter School, Kuna
  • Fernan STEM Academy, Coeur d’Alene
  • Fremont County School Joint District #215, St. Anthony
  • Galileo STEM Academy, Eagle (x4)
  • Genesee Joint School District #282, Genesee
  • Glenns Ferry Public Library, Glenns Ferry
  • Grangeville Elementary/Middle School, Grangeville
  • Grangeville Elementary/Middle School PTA, Grangeville
  • Greensferry Elementary School, Post Falls
  • Hagerman Public Library, Hagerman
  • Hailey Public Library, Hailey
  • Heritage Middle School, Meridian
  • Idaho Arts Charter School, Nampa
  • Idaho Falls Public Library, Idaho Falls
  • Idaho Public Television, Boise
  • Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy, Pierce
  • Intermountain Bird Observatory at Boise State University, Boise
  • Jefferson Joint School District #251, Rigby (x3)
  • Kendrick Joint School District #283, Kendrick
  • Kendrick Jr./Sr. High School, Kendrick
  • Kershaw Intermediate School, Sugar City
  • Kimberly High School, Kimberly
  • Kimberly Middle School, Kimberly
  • Kuna Library District, Kuna
  • Lake Pend Oreille School District #84, Ponderay
  • Lake Ridge Elementary, Nampa
  • Lakeland Joint School District #272, Rathdrum
  • Lakes Magnet Middle School, Coeur d’Alene
  • Leadore School, Leadore
  • Lincoln High School, Idaho Falls
  • Madison Junior High School, Rexburg
  • Madison Library District, Rexburg
  • Marsh Valley High School, Arimo
  • McSorley Elementary School, Lewiston
  • Middleton High School, Middleton
  • Middleton School District #134, Middleton (x2)
  • Mill Creek Elementary School, Middleton
  • Monroe Elementary School, Boise
  • Moscow School District #281, Moscow (x3)
  • Moscow School District Adventure Club, Moscow
  • Mountainview Alternative High School, Rathdrum
  • Murtaugh Joint School District #418, Murtaugh
  • New Plymouth School District #372, New Plymouth
  • Newcomer Center & Dworshak Elementary School, Burley
  • Nezperce Elementary School, Nezperce
  • Nezperce School District #302, Nezperce
  • North Bingham County District Library, Shelley
  • North Gem School District #149, Bancroft
  • North Idaho STEM Charter Academy, Rathdrum
  • Notus Elementary School, Notus
  • Notus Public Library, Notus
  • Orofino High School, Orofino
  • Palouse Prairie Educational Organization, Moscow
  • Payette Lakes Community Association, McCall
  • Pepper Ridge Elementary School, Boise
  • Potlatch Elementary School, Potlatch
  • Purple Sage Elementary School, Caldwell
  • Ridgevue High School, Nampa
  • Rolling Hills Public Charter School, Garden City
  • Salmon School District #291, Salmon
  • Sandpoint Middle School, Sandpoint (x2)
  • Shoshone Public Library, Shoshone
  • Syringa Middle School, Caldwell
  • Temple View Elementary School, Idaho Falls
  • Tigert Middle School, Soda Springs
  • Treasure Valley Mathematics and Science Center, Boise
  • Twin Falls School District #411, Twin Falls (x2)
  • University of Idaho Extension, Moscow
  • Vallivue Middle School, Caldwell
  • Vallivue School District #139, Caldwell (x2)
  • West Ada School District #2, Meridian
  • West Park Elementary School, Moscow
  • Westside Elementary School, Payette
  • Wilson Elementary School, Caldwell
  • Woodland Hills Elementary School, Idaho Falls
  • Woodland Middle School, Coeur d’Alene

About the Idaho STEM Action Center
The Idaho STEM Action Center is part of the Governor’s Office and was created by state lawmakers in 2015 to enhance Idaho’s STEM environment by connecting resources, students, educators and businesses. The organization is working with industry, government, educators, and students to develop new resources and support high-quality teacher professional-development opportunities to foster a STEM-educated workforce to ensure Idaho’s continued economic prosperity. Visit stem.idaho.gov for more information.

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