Money to be used to enhance robotics program
The Sharon Community School District was selected to receive a $10,000 grant for LEGO Mindstorms Robotics through America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund recently.
“Growing the next generation is very important to farmers, and they realize that you are an integral part of that process,” the organization awarding the grant said in a press release.
“To show their appreciation, farmers in your area nominated you to receive this grant.”
According to the release, after the application was submitted, it was reviewed first by math and science teachers from ineligible school districts, then by the America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education Advisory Council, a group of 29 prominent farmers from across the country.
“The Advisory Council was impressed with your dedication to your students and your innovative ideas for improving their educational experiences,” the release said.
Vicki Nass of the Sharon Community School Board of Education said the grant will jumpstart STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) opportunities with the purchase and implementation of robotics into the school’s curriculum in order to increase student achievement in math and science and to increase student engagement via 21st Century skills content.
She said the iPad Minis purchased through the grant will be used for the design and software components of the robotics program as students engage in hands-on activities in math, science, engineering and technology in order to build, design and program robots according to provided challenges.
The grant was written by Library Media Specialist Toni Bethke in collaboration with Dr. Lillian Henderson, district administrator. Local farm sponsors of the grant were David and Sharon Travis and Chuck Weeks.
