Edina Education Fund awarded Dow Foundation grant

The Edina Education Fund is the proud recipient of a $15,000 grant from the Dow Chemical Company Foundation. Grant funds will be distributed to three Edina Public Schools district programs the Edina Education Fund has supported for a number of years: Edina High School Robotics Team 1816, Project Lead the Way, and Curriculum Resources Program.

The Edina High School Robotics team (a.k.a. Team 1816-The Green Machine), established in 2005, has touched the lives of more than 130 Edina students, teaching leadership, communication and STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) skills and motivating them to pursue STEM programs at top universities. Grant funds will support their activities during the 2015/16 school year, which include opportunities for students to work with industry professionals as they design and build a robot and compete in regional events.

Project Lead the Way, STEM-focused curriculum that has been offered in the district since 2008, exposes students in grades 7 through 12 to the fundamentals of engineering through innovative, hands-on activities. Grant funds will be used to purchase dye-sublimation equipment, which will teach students new technical skills, provide an outlet for creative expression, and build a sense of pride and ownership in their learning as they create professional-grade awards plaques, sweatshirts, t-shirts, and gear for student organizations.

The Curriculum Resources Program, which started as a consortium of multiple districts in the mid-1970’s, enhances existing curriculum, and provides opportunities for Edina Public Schools students to experience learning in a new way. Grant funds will be used for speakers who are experts in the areas of science and technology to present on interesting and exciting topics in the classroom, at science fairs, and on field trips off school grounds.

“When students are provided with these unique, educational, personally-enriching experiences, the whole community benefits.” said Tracie Huhn-Carr, Edina Education Fund Executive Director. “We’re so proud to continue to support these valuable programs.”

To learn more about the Edina Education Fund’s support of programs within the Edina Public Schools district, please visit www.edinaedfund.org.

About Edina Education Fund

Founded in 1995, the Edina Education Fund is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the continued academic excellence of the Edina Public Schools. The Edina Education Fund secures private, supplemental funding to support valuable education experiences and innovative projects in the Edina Public Schools. Funds raised augment school system revenues that are provided by taxes, state aid, and other parent and student led fundraising efforts.