Tdworld 3603 Stemgrants
Tdworld 3603 Stemgrants
Tdworld 3603 Stemgrants
Tdworld 3603 Stemgrants
Tdworld 3603 Stemgrants

FirstEnergy Awards STEM Grants to 18 Teachers in Northeast Ohio

Jan. 6, 2016
The grants will be used for a variety of hands-on projects, workshops and teacher development programs across the Ohio Edison and The Illuminating Company service areas.

FirstEnergy Corp. has awarded Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) grants totaling almost $15,000 to 18 northeast Ohio teachers, representing 17 educator-submitted projects. The grants will be used for a variety of hands-on projects, workshops and teacher development programs across the Ohio Edison and The Illuminating Company service areas.

The grant winners, their schools and projects are:

  • Angela Ebert, Applewood Elementary School, Brunswick – Studying magnetism and electricity
  • Laura Rini, Hickory Ridge Elementary, Brunswick – Learning skills with LED lights
  • Edward Savitski, St. Sebastian School, Akron – Energy transformations, measurements, data collection and analysis using solar powered cars
  • Zach Griffin and Jason Tomayko, National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM School, Akron – Survivability in the wake of a disastrous storm
  • Stacy Latham, Barberton Middle School, Barberton – Designing the electric layout for a house
  • Margaret Busker-Postlethwait, East Community Learning Center, Akron – Launching pumpkins with a trebuchet-type catapult
  • Paula Murphy, Young Elementary, Akron – Lifelong learning skills through exploration with robots
  • Sarah Rivera, Perry High School, Perry – Building a solar water heater
  • Stephanie Gribble, Loudonville Perrysville Exempted School District, Loudonville – Electricity and circuits
  • Michael Wolski, Mentor High School, Mentor – Feasibility study of wind power at Mentor High School
  • Lauren Scotta, Gilles-Sweet Elementary, Fairview Park – Hatching chicks in the classroom
  • Stephanie Greathouse, Chaney STEM, Youngstown – Exploring robotics and energy with LEGO® Mindstorm
  • Blanche Davidson, Perry Middle School, Perry – Renewable engineering with solar cars
  • Kimberly Burgard, Lakeside Junior High, Ashtabula – Building solar and battery-powered cars
  • John Oliver Milam, St. Vincent De Paul Parish School, Akron – Using engineering to improve literacy with little free libraries
  • Jennifer Detmar, Pleasant Valley Elementary and STEM School, Parma – Lighting up the world
  • Robert Engels, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, Akron – Using hand generators to study and measure electricity

"FirstEnergy has long supported educational activities in communities served by our The Illuminating Company and Ohio Edison utilities, particularly those that encourage students to pursue careers in the critical fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics," said Mark A. Julian, vice president of utility operations at FirstEnergy.  "We are pleased to provide assistance to several STEM projects this year that support our students, schools and educators as they work to help build a strong workforce for the future."  

FirstEnergy offers grants up to $1,000 to individual teachers and administrators at schools served by its electric utility operating companies and in communities where it has facilities.  

Grant recipients are recommended by local educators who make up FirstEnergy's Educational Advisory Council.  As part of the program, recipients must furnish a written summary and evaluation of their projects that can be shared with other educators in FirstEnergy's service area.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of T&D World, create an account today!