STEM Challenge Grants Totaling $50,000 Awarded To Frederick County Public Schools

The funds come from Battelle National Biodefense.

Frederick, Md (KM) The Frederick County School System is receiving a total of $50,000 in STEM Challenge grants. The funds come from Battelle National Biodefense Institute (BNBI)

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

“FCPS students and teachers benefit annually from these significant STEM grants,” says Superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools. Dr. Theresa Alban, in a statement. “I look forward to viewing the completed projects, which often sparks interest in STEM career paths.”

The School System says 15 grant proposals were submitted during a six-week period by teachers in elementary, middle and high schools. Out of that, eight were selected as winners. The grant amounts range from $2,587 to $14,953. Three of the winners were from elementary schools; one was from a middle school; and four were from high schools.

The schools being awarded STEM grants are:

Frederick High – Cadet Robotics: The Return of the Jedi!

· Glade Elementary – Robots and Building Blocks: A Study in Critical Thinking

· Governor Thomas Johnson High – WIN: Wilderness Inspires Naturalists

· Middletown High – MHS Science/Chemistry

· New Market Elementary – Brick Science: Building STEM Engagement in Early Childhood Learners

· Urbana High – Robotics at UHS

· West Frederick Middle – Hydroponics in the Classroom

“I’m always amazed by the proposals we receive from FCPS teachers,” says Dr. George Korch, the President of Battelle National Biodefense Institute, in a statement. “They are thoughtful, creative and convey a real passion for finding new ways to teach STEM. We are hopeful that the students and teachers will again be able to showcase their projects as they did before the pandemic.”

The partnership between FCPS and BNBI was established in 2009 with the long-term goal of getting more students interested in and better prepared to major in math, the difficult sciences and engineering when they attend college.