Supporting STEM education in our K-12 schools has always been an objective of the New England Section which we have met through various events. We recently opened up a community just for our Educator Associate members-we currently have 94 educators in our community, but hope to expand this group. If you know any local STEM K-12 educators in your area who are not already AIAA members, please invite them to join-there is no membership cost for K-12 educators! They can find more information about joining as an Educator Associate HERE.
This year, we have additional funds available because of decreased activity elsewhere caused by the Covid-19 virus and are now accepting applications for two new grants (up to $250 each). The intent of these grants is to enhance STEM education in K-12 schools in the New England Section: VT, NH, ME, MA, and RI. This grant will be awarded to elementary, middle, or high school science teachers (or departments) to purchase supplies and/or equipment that would augment science experiments and/or mathematical and engineering-related activities in the classroom. It will not be awarded for items such as travel, conference registration, computers nor non-STEM facilities. You must be a current AIAA Educator Associate Member and a member of the New England Section to apply.
The two grants available:
- General: a general one for all Educator Associate's schools
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: an equal one for schools which are poorly supported and/or have economically disadvantaged students and/or will apply these funds in support of under-represented minorities.
Please apply for only one of the grants. Each grant may be up to $250 for this year. We hope to fund multiple grants in each category. We are prioritizing the total number of grants to only one per school. These $250 grants from the New England Section is independent of the $500 grants available through the national AIAA Foundation.
To apply:
- Prepare a one (1) page proposal describing how you would use this grant to enhance science experiments, technology efforts, or engineering-related activities in the classroom.
- The proposal should include:
- Name of associate applying for the grant
- Name of school
- Statement of how the grant will enhance STEM education
- Schedule
- Associates' evaluation of impact (e.g. how many students would be affected, scientific knowledge improvements, etc.)
- Total cost of the items to be purchased (broken out by individual items)
- Submit your proposal to the New England Section STEM K-12 Officer, Mr. Endri Lesha (fysiken.endri@protonmail.com)
Educators who receive funding from AIAA-NE will be expected to:
- Summarize the use of the funds, how successful the effort was, and any lessons learned.
- Submit copies of appropriate purchase documentation.
- Acknowledge AIAA New England support in their activity reporting, presentations and elsewhere as appropriate.
Questions Concerning this Grant:
If there are any questions concerning this grant, please get in touch by replying to this message, or emailing me directly at lesha.endri@gmail.com.
------------------------------
Endri Lesha
STEM K-12 Officer
New England Section
------------------------------