Biogen Foundation awards $125K in STEM grants for NC public schools

The Biogen Foundation has awarded $125,000 in grants to support science education programs and projects in public schools across North Carolina. In its second year, the Foundation’s “Ignite the Power of STEM” program awards teachers, schools and nonprofit STEM education programs that serve K-12 students. Teachers were eligible to apply for grants up to $2,000. Schools and nonprofits could apply for grants up to $5,000. There were 35 deserving schools selected from a wide range of applications. The program was administered by the North Carolina Community Foundation (NCCF).

“We want to spark a passion for science among North Carolina students of all ages,” said Joydeep Ganguly, Biogen Foundation Board member. “This program is designed to help students experience the fun and power of hands-on science learning and to know that science careers are within their reach.”

Ignite the Power of STEM 2015-16 grant recipients:

• Ayden Middle School for Model Rockets, Pitt
• Beaufort County Early College High School for Videoing the Microscopic World
• Brentwood Elementary School for Engineering a Healthier World, Wake
• East Chapel Hill High School for Using Birdbrain Finches to Infuse Physics Classes with Computer Science, Chapel Hill-Carrboro
• East Lee Middle School, for STEM for ALL, Lee
• Hillandale Elementary School for BMX Challenge Course, Henderson
• H.J. MacDonald Middle School for Robots to the Rescue, Craven
• J.W. Turlington School for BrainPop Initiative Project, Hoke
• Lift Every Voice Institute for Feed One Save One, Vance
• Lincoln Heights Elementary School PTA for Educator Professional Training for STEM Curriculum and Engineering Elementary Kits, Wake
• Longview Elementary School for Off to the Right Start: Building a STEM Collaboration Lab, Hickory
• Louisburg High School for What’s in my Water?, Franklin
• Martin County Schools for Mission to Mars
• Meadowview Magnet Middle School for Inquiry Science in the Middle School, Mount Airy
• Middle College High School at Durham Technical Community College for Differential Literacy in High School Biology
• Morton Elementary for Morton Master Builders, Onslow
• New Vision School of Math, Science and Technology for Engineers in the Classroom, Rockingham-Stokes
• Pender High School for Digging into DNA and 3D Modeling, Pender
• Perry Harrison Elementary School for Leaners Today, Leaders Tomorrow, Chatham
• Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute for Students Engaging Science Researchers at an Active Astronomical Research Station, Transylvania
• Riverside Middle School for Robotic Virtual Programming Project, Martin
• Roanoke Rapids Graded School District for Bringing Inquiry Science to NE NC
• Robbinsville High School for Get in the BioZone, Graham
• SATELLITE for Science and Technology Enriching Lifelong Leaders in Tomorrow’s Endeavors, Wake
• Sherwood Githens Middle School for Fetal Piggies for Science!, Durham
• Shoals Elementary for Science Literacy-May The Force Be with You, Surry
• STEM West/Western Piedmont Council of Governments, Robox Sumo, Alexander
• Surry County Public Schools for Junior Camp Med, Surry
• Swain Family Intervention Services, Inc. for Swain Summer STEM Camp, Swain
• The Brilliant and Beautiful Foundation for Wild About Data: Bioinformatics, Wake
• North Carolina Leadership Academy for STEM Girls, Forsyth
• UNCW Research Foundation for Junior Seahawk Academy: STEM/Health Explorations, New Hanover
• Upper Coastal Plain Learning Council for Putting the “E” in STEM, Wilson
• Western Middle School for Project HOST (Hands on Science Teaching), Alamance • Wilson Academy of Applied Technology for Robotics Lab

The “Ignite the Power of STEM” grants program for 2016-17 will be held in the fall, when additional and more specific information will be detailed at www.biogen.com/igniteNC and on our website.