Junior Women’s Club Grant To Fund STEM Creation Lab At Oakwood

LEMONT, IL — The Lemont Junior Women’s Club awarded a $10,000 grant to the SD113A Educational Foundation at its March 7 meeting. The foundation said the grant will enable the beginning of an innovative Creation Lab at Oakwood School with critical hands-on STEM resources for Pre-K through second grade students.

“The Educational Foundation is thrilled to accept this significant grant award. Such support from the LJWC not only strengthens our schools, but also highlights community collaboration in Lemont to enrich the learning experiences for our children,” Carolyn Cesarz, 113A Educational Foundation president, said in a release.

Kelly Zimmerman, Oakwood School principal, has big plans for the award. The foundation said part of the existing Oakwood library space will be transformed into a dedicated STEM learning environment. The Creation Lab will be filled with age-appropriate robotics, building, engineering and creative play materials that will support STEM learning for more than 700 students ages 3-8, and will be sustainable for future students for years to come.

“We are so excited to bring this STEM opportunity to Oakwood School,” Katie Quesnel, co-president of the LJWC, said in a release. “These young students are curious, ask questions, and love to explore. The Creation Lab will encourage those critical thinking skills that will help shape the future of these students.”

Photo provided by District 113A Educational Foundation.