Recent Awards

2011-12 Academic Year:

Morrisonville Community Grade School in Christian County received $5,000 for their new program entitled "Light Up Our School!" The program will engage 4th through 6th grade students and teachers through math and science in ‘going green’ activities that focus on conserving energy.

Riverton Middle School in Sangamon County received $5,000 to introduce engineering and energy to students through the STEM approach. Students will gain an understanding of what energy is, where it comes from and how electricity is used.

2011-12 Academic Year:

Greenview Knolls Elementary School, in St. Mary’s County, was awarded $6,500 to expand its Nature’s ROLE (Resources in Our Learning Environment) program to include a new composting station which will serve as an outdoor classroom.

IEC Chesapeake was awarded $9,000 in support of its Renewable Energy Awareness Project which will be expanded to focus on high school and career and technical education students.  The project will explore the career opportunities within the renewable energy market in both construction and other applicable fields.

National Aquarium was awarded $6,125 to place baby Diamondback Terrapins in 30 schools where students will assist in hands-on husbandry, data collection and natural history studies of these reptiles during the school year.  The students will then have the opportunity to release these animals back into their natural environment.

2011-12 Academic Year:

St. Mary Star of the Sea School was awarded $9,910 to install a weather station from which live weather data will be fed into classrooms via school computers.  The station and resulting data will be used for enhanced mathematics, science, geography, and technology education throughout the school.

Waterford High School was awarded $10,000 to install a wind turbine. The energy output will be monitored by teachers and students. The turbine will be used to educate Waterford students about how wind plays a key role as an alternative energy source.

Lincoln-Thomson Elementary School was awarded $10,000 to study energy concepts with a focus on scientific observation and exploration. The funds will provide 1st and 2nd graders with project kits as well as the teacher curriculum binders, tools and readers to conduct inquiry-based science and energy lessons.

The SMILE Program University of Rhode Island was awarded $10,000 toward its elementary outdoor science adventure where 4th and 5th grade students have the opportunity to attend a three-day and two-night field-based environmental camp at The University of Rhode Island.

Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council was awarded $10,000 for its pilot program which partners with the US Fish and Wildlife Service at the North Attleboro National Fish Hatchery.  The program will place tanks in three locations where students in grades k-8 will study the fish life cycle, from egg form to releasing the adult fish back into the wild.

2011-12 Academic Year:

Perquimans Central School was awarded $7,500 in support of its "Science Through the Eyes of First Graders" program.  This program will meet the needs of students by providing materials needed to develop a better understanding of science through real-life experiences.

2011-12 Academic Year:

Arts in Stark received $9,000 to develop a project entitled, “Liquid Math” which will teach math, science and water conservation simultaneously. This program will help 5th graders understand how the misuse of our water resources affects our planet.

Green Intermediate School in Summit County received $6,000 for “Charging Up the Community,” a program designed to raise energy awareness among Green Intermediate School students, as well as Green residents. The project will focus on energy uses and energy conservation.

Green Middle School in Summit County received $6,000 to teach 6th and  7th graders about the process of drilling for gas and oil, and potential drilling sites for natural gas and oil wells. The program brings the field into the classroom and students into the field through technology.

Kent City School District in Portage County received $5,000 to encourage interaction between Roosevelt High School students and Kent’s elementary schools. High school students will teach the elementary students about the water quality monitoring and about the importance of clean water.

Neighborhood Centers Association in Cuyahoga County received $10,000 to develop the program, YES-Cleveland! (Youth Education for Sustainability). The program will provide education and resources to promote sustainable living in Cleveland’s neighborhoods, targeting youth at six center sites.

New Philadelphia High School in Tuscarawas County received $5,000 to engage elementary and high school students in the inquiry-based study of local ecosystems, ecosystem processes, and the interactions between human society and their local environment.

Our Lady of the Lake School in Cuyahoga County received $5,000 to implement the program, “Fridays at the Lake.” Students will study bird and animal life, effects of erosion – specifically wind and water, fishing industry and pollution and how human activities can impact ecosystems.

Progressive Arts Alliance in Cuyahoga County received $10,000 to work with 6th graders to create PSA’s designed to teach other students about energy. The video PSA’s will be shared through the Progressive Arts Alliance website and with other 6th grade students through the distribution of DVD’s.

St. Anthony Elementary School in Summit County received $6,000 to conduct a program called “Honey Bees and the Ecosystem.” This collaboration, with King Elementary school, will study honey bees using the STEM approach to learning.

St. Peter Chanel High School in Cuyahoga County received $3,500 for 9th and 10th students at St. Peter Chanel to explore and gain an understanding and appreciation for the state of Ohio and its natural resources.

Tuscarawas Central Catholic School in Tuscarawas County received $5,000 to implement the program, “Watt’s Your Energy I.Q.?” This program will educate students, teachers, parents and the surrounding community about the importance of energy conservation and the types of energy uses available.

West Middle School in Allen County received $1,000 to bring a hands-on learning experience to both students and their families. The COSI science outreach program will provide an after-school event to allow families to explore energy concepts relating to math and science in a fun and exciting environment.

Youngstown State University in Mahoning County received $8,500 to restore Science Day with a special focus on environmental issues and environmentally related projects through professional development for teachers, student recruitment and engaging YSU students as coaches.

2011-12 Academic Year:

Allegheny College in Crawford County received $5,000 for a program titled, “Creek Connections,” which supports a partnership between Allegheny College and K-12 schools. They will utilize the French Creek and Allegheny and Ohio River watersheds as outdoor laboratories for ongoing water quality investigations.

Avon Grove School District in Chester County received $5,000 to install a greenhouse and hydroponic system to enrich the learning of environmental science by conducting laboratory experiments to enhance student knowledge of scientific reasoning.

Park Forest Middle School in Centre County received $2,800 to utilize the STEM curricula to design, build and test a “lift style” axial flux alternator. Students will learn firsthand where energy comes from and sources of renewable energy.

Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy in Allegheny County received $2,500 to expand their “High School Urban EcoStewards” program at City Charter High School.

Reading is FUNdamental Pittsburgh in Allegheny County received $1,000 to continue a significant program entitled “Books for Keeps Math and Science.” This program provides books to low-income families to reduce the educational disparities.

The Agnes Irwin School in Delaware County received $700 to begin a collaborative worm composting program for 3rd grade students and members of the Upper School Ecology Club. Students will explore food waste, the assembly of composting bins and other environmental issues.

Wissahickon School District in Montgomery County received $3,000 to have middle school students utilize outdoor resources for scientific exploration that will support their understanding of local natural resources using scientific methods and mathematical analysis.

2011-12 Academic Year:

Belmont Ridge Middle School in Loudoun County was awarded $8,000 to install solar panels that offer students a hands-on learning experience. The project will engage students in data collection and analysis and compliment Standards of Learning topics, including, alternative and renewable energy sources.

Belvedere Elementary School in Fairfax was awarded $2,500 for construction of a “discovery garden,” the implementation of a composting program and development of nature trails.

Bessie Weller Elementary in Staunton was awarded $1,000 to provide the “Trout in the Classroom Program,” which offers fourth grade students the opportunity to learn about the environment through the study, care, and release of freshwater trout.

Booker T. Washington Middle School in Newport News was awarded $5,000 to expand its “Explores, Serves, and Protects the Bay” program for students in grades 6-8 to foster a connection to local environmental issues. Students will develop a greenhouse and cultivate sea grasses to be planted in local rivers.

Boxerwood Education Association in Lexington was awarded $5,000 to launch water and energy conservation programs for students in grades 4 and 5.  Students will learn about Virginia’s “common wealth” of natural resources through field investigation, project development and stewardship activities in the community.

Central Elementary in Fluvanna County was awarded $1,000 for the construction of a greenhouse to enhance math and science studies.  The greenhouse will allow the students to grow plants and vegetables year-round and connect to the community through the sale and donation of their greenhouse produce.

Central High School in Shenandoah County was awarded $10,000 for the “Wind for Schools” project, which raises awareness about the benefits of wind energy while simultaneously developing a wind energy knowledge base in future leaders by installing a small wind turbine on school grounds.

Chase City Elementary in Mecklenburg County was awarded $1,000 for a second-grade program that promotes the importance of the local forest ecosystem. Programming from the Science Museum of Virginia, assemblies, classroom workshops and hands-on exhibits will teach students ways conserve at school, at home and in the community.

Churchland High School in Portsmouth was awarded $2,500 for its “STEM 2 Youth Garden” project.  Horticulture students will plan, plant, and harvest a vegetable garden. A number of cross-curricular and community events will foster collaboration and enhance science education while incorporating health, wellness and social responsibility.

Coles Elementary in Prince William County was awarded $3,000 for the development of a multicultural garden and study of major pollinators of Virginia crops. Students in grades K-5 will celebrate the variety of cultures represented at Coles Elementary while gaining essential science skills through the cultivation and harvest of their garden.

Cumberland County Public Schools was awarded $7,000 for a service project that pairs high school students enrolled in the Renewable Energy and Green Building Design course with elementary and middle school students to design and execute experiments focused on solar energy production and basic electricity.

Dinwiddie Middle School was awarded $6,000 for students to collect and analyze data related to global climate change using the latest technology. With the Exploring Microclimates Kit, students can measure temperature, barometric pressure, relative and absolute humidity, dew point, wind speed, as well as GPS location.

Fairfax County Public Schools was awarded $5,000 to support expansion of the GEMS (Girls Excelling in Math and Science) Club, an after-school club, which inspires girls in grades 3-6 with an interest in STEM through hands-on experience and interaction with female role models. Plans include increasing the number of clubs in the county, providing additional field trip experiences and teacher training.

Gainesville Middle School in Prince William County was awarded $6,000 to provide students with hands-on learning experiences focused on electrical production and alternative resources. Seventh graders will benefit from problem-solving and skill-building projects that demonstrate the generation of electricity, the structure and function of fuel cells and the capabilities of solar power.

Goochland County Public Schools was awarded $5,000 to provide instruction to teachers and students in grades 3-5 on environmental and energy-related topics. Additional online opportunities will be available to gifted students in each grade.

Granby High School in Norfolk was awarded $3,000 for equipment and interactive enhancements in environmental education classes, including geospatial technology and field trips to local research sites. These enhancements will invigorate students’ learning through increased field experience and interaction with expert scientists, engineers and meteorologists.

Halifax County Public Schools Education Foundation was awarded $1,000 for the purchase of Measurement and Estimation Pocket Chart resource kits to reinforce math skills for students in grades K-2. These kits will provide students a new visual aid in rising to the challenge of increasingly vigorous Standards of Learning in both group and individual instruction settings.

Hanover High School was awarded $6,000 to establish the "Business of Engineering" program which will benefit high school students by helping them integrate the science and technology skills needed to design, build and program a robot using real-world business practices and leadership skills.

Henrico County Public Schools was awarded $6,000 for kits for 3rd grade students to enhance energy education with particular focus on simple machines and renewable and non-renewable energy sources. This new program will reinforce concepts of scientific investigation and encourage student collaboration across schools through a research web log.

Hollin Meadows Partnership in Fairfax County was awarded $5,000 for a summit to share Hollin Meadows Science and Math Focus Elementary School’s innovative outdoor education programs with 50 schools in the region. A panel and breakout sessions will stimulate discussion among educators and experts regarding best practices of STEM teaching.

J.A. Chalkley Elementary School in Chesterfield County was awarded $1,000 to revitalize its courtyard pond, a central feature of the school’s outdoor learning laboratory. The revitalized pond will offer students in grades K-5 a hands-on understanding of plant and animal life within an aquatic ecosystem.

Kingston Elementary School in Virginia Beach was awarded $1,000 for the creation of an edible garden. Students will apply math and science skills in the planting and harvesting of fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

Maggie Walker Governor’s School in Richmond was awarded $9,500 to install environmentally-conscious technology for outdoor lighting. Monitoring systems for the building will be linked to classrooms through an electronic data collection system so that students in AP Environmental Science and other classes may demonstrate, test, and evaluate various scenarios for the facility’s optimal function.

Middlesex High School was awarded $1,000 to fund the first Advanced Placement course and examination at Middlesex High School. This Advanced Placement Statistics course will offer students the opportunity to study higher-level mathematics while earning both high school and college credit.

Plaza Middle School in Virginia Beach was awarded $1,000 for its native tree nursery project, through which 7th and 8th graders grow and study native specimens through applied science and math lessons. Upon graduation, each student will receive a tree to plant.

Powell Valley Primary School in Wise County was awarded $1,000 for materials in support of its “Response to Intervention” enrichment program that reinforces math skills for all students in grades K-4.

Prince William County Public Schools Education Foundation was awarded $2,500 for student research projects entered in the “We Can Change the World Challenge.” Students will explore feasible alternatives to current energy.

The Valley Alliance for Education in Fishersville was awarded $1,500 to design and create a vegetable garden enabling students to grow and prepare fresh food.  An outdoor garden will teach students that plants need light, water, gasses and nutrients and students will monitor and document plant growth.

Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom was awarded $4,965 for teacher workshops entitled “Sprouting Success.”   The workshops provide teachers (grades Pre-K through 8) with SOL-aligned lessons and classroom resources to help them teach Virginia's educational standards with fun and interesting activities and materials.

Virginia Living Museum in Newport News was awarded $7,500 for the development and execution of an in-class, inquiry-based environmental science program designed to reach all third-grade students in Isle of Wight County.

2011-12 Academic Year:

Gilmore Elementary School in Jackson County received $10,000 for the development of NatureFit Trail which will be available for students and residents of Sandyville. The program will create hands-on, outdoor environmental educational opportunities and increase physical activity to promote overall wellness.

Green Bank Elementary Middle School in Pocahontas received $5,000 to participate in a multi-state research program involving Golden Eagles. Students will study the distribution and migration patterns of the eagles by monitoring a bait station using a wildlife camera that takes pictures of the activities.

Huntington High School in Cabell County received $5,000 for students to study the effects that pollution on local watersheds. This program is a student-conducted study where data will be collected and entered into a database, allowing a report to be generated on the level of contamination along Fourpole Creek.

Tyler Consolidated High School in Tyler County received $10,000 to involve students in the collection and analysis of physical and biologic data on endangered hemlock trees and threats to their survival. The program is expected to span five years, allowing many students to become involved.

West Virginia Raptor Rehabilitation Center in Marion County received $5,000 to introduce to students to the role of raptors in our ecosystem. Grades 3 through 12 will study how raptors perform an essential role of helping to keep prey populations in balance with food supply.

2011-12 Academic Year:

Friends of the Brown County Library received $5,000 to educate children, families and teachers on environmental issues and sustainable living practices. They will promote environmental stewardship and create opportunities in the communities to promote the importance of environmental protection.

Howard-Suamico School District in Brown County received $3,000 to pilot a project-based energy education program that will compliment the district’s K-12 Energy Education Plan. The focus is to work together with families and community to ensure that students have the knowledge and skills to succeed in a changing world.

Kewaunee Elementary School received $2,000 to educate 5th graders on the importance of energy conservation. Students will use a thermal imaging camera and software to find energy leaks in the school and present their findings and solutions to administration.