Two Copper Country School Districts Awarded State STEM Grants

The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s (LEO) MiSTEM Network today announced grants totaling $237,640 to 13 K-12 institutions and organizations as part of an ongoing effort to create and bolster educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in communities throughout the state.

“These grants are yet another building block in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s historic and comprehensive work to provide the foundational tools and programs Michigan schools need to train our students for the high-paying jobs of the future and to fill the STEM talent pipeline for our employers and those considering bringing more high-tech jobs to the Great Lakes State,” said LEO Director Susan Corbin.

Megan Schrauben, MiSTEM executive director, praised all the applicants for their continued efforts to work on behalf of all students to create, improve and expand STEM learning in all corners of the state and noted that Michigan is getting noticed nationally for its focus on STEM in K-12 education.

“Working together, we are creating a vibrant STEM ecosystem that will ultimately lead to more engaged students and a stronger Michigan workforce now and well into the future,” Schrauben said. “We are confident our work will pay dividends in sustaining, attracting and growing the high-paying jobs that will drive Michigan’s economy for generations. We congratulate these schools and community partners across the state for taking advantage of these grant opportunities to benefit students throughout Michigan.”

Grant proposals were submitted and reviewed through a competitive request for proposal process. Projects were selected, in part, for addressing needs in vulnerable communities in both rural and urban areas. In addition, this year proposals were accepted not only from K-12 schools and intermediate school districts but also from other institutions and organizations that serve K-12 education.

“These grants are vital to establishing and expanding STEM programs early and often throughout the Great Lakes State, particularly in traditionally underserved communities,” Schrauben said. “It is important to provide students with access to real-world STEM experiences and to give our educators the training and support they need in creating curriculum and programs to bring those opportunities forward.”

The grant announcement, which also happens to coincide with Michigan’s Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week, awarded as much as $20,000 to each of the 13 grantees and included some programs pairing MiSTEM work, freshwater literacy and place-based STEM education to support innovative STEM 3-P (problem-, place- and project-based) learning.

MiSTEM’s continued partnership with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) promotes the natural pairing of STEM and water education, the “blue economy” workforce development, recreation opportunities and environmental protection of the Great Lakes and Michigan’s vast freshwater resources.

To learn more, join EGLE for a virtual panel of MiSTEM and other professionals as they discuss ways to create new tools, resources, programs, and partnerships to support filling the Water talent pipeline on the upcoming “Building a Water Workforce in the Blue Economy” webinar. The virtual event will take place from 1-2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7. Learn more and register today at Bluewaterwork.

Grant awardees are:

Hancock Public Schools

(Houghton County)

$18,000 to develop and enhance curriculum that will build student STEM and STEAM competencies in successive grades to prepare them for opportunities with local manufacturers. The training will help cultivate a workforce pipeline that will support the growth of the community.