Funding, Grants & Awards | News

Detroit Public Schools Receives $35,000 for STEM Ed Projects

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 11/18/13

Twenty-six teachers at Detroit Public Schools will have funding for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) projects thanks to $35,000 in grants.

Provided by Bosch Energy, Science and Technology (BEST), the grants will fund "teacher-submitted projects that range from building a remotely operated vehicle that can function in a submarine environment to creating a robotics program for elementary school students to erecting a rainwater irrigation system for rooftop gardens," according to a news release.

Award winners and their schools include:

• Ivy Bailey of Spain Elementary-Middle;
• Krystal Bolar and Yolanda Portis of Thurgood Marshall Elementary;
• David Boye of Munger PreK-8;
• Sakina Burch of Ann Arbor Trail Magnet;
• Jennifer Edwards and Kathy Sergeant of Ronald Brown Academy;
• Pamela Green of Gompers Elementary-Middle;
• Loretta Hall of Dixon Educational Learning Academy;
• Penelope Johnson of Hutchinson Leadership Academy;
• Michele Kaseta-Collins of Carstens Elementary-Middle;
• Amy Lazarowicz of Neinas Elementary;
• Wendell Massey and Zenola Brandon of Mark Twain Elementary-Middle;
• Paula Odom  of Carleton Elementary;
• Kunyan Vyas of Emerson Elementary-Middle;
• Dyan Wardwell of Bates Academy;
• Agatha Gordon of Carver STEM Academy;
• Karanji Kaduma of Pulaski Elementary-Middle;
• Jennifer Boyle of King High School;
• Camilia Gligor of Osborn Collegiate Academy of Mathematics, Science and Technology;
• Kristina Peart of Osborn Evergreen Academy of Design and Alternative Energy;
• Denise Rivers of Cass Technical High School;
• Chad Segrist of Detroit Institute of Technology College Prep High School at Cody;
• Sharon Tuinukaufe of Communication and Media Arts High School; and
• Kerry Williams of Renaissance High School.

"The more we can do to provide resources to schools, the greater the opportunity teachers will have to make a positive impact on students' curiosity," said Kathleen Owsley, executive director, Bosch Community Fund, in a prepared statement. "We want students to understand the types of high-tech, good-paying jobs these fields offer. We were impressed with the innovative ideas submitted by the teachers and look forward to positive results from the work that they will do with their students."

BEST has also donated $10,000 to DPS to support the district's Go Green Challenge, a program in which participating schools try to lower energy costs by changing the behavior of building occupants.