Battelle Funding for Out-Of-Classroom Education Grows, Inspires New Ideas

COLUMBUS, Ohio (August 18, 2015)—From sketch comedy to gardening, roller skates to engineering, Central Ohio kids will have new out-of-classroom learning opportunities thanks to grants from Battelle, the company announced today.


Battelle has awarded $534,000 to fund eleven out-of-classroom learning projects in Central Ohio. This funding marks Battelle's largest total funding and the largest number of awardees as the Battelle STEM Grant Program completes its third round of awards since 2013. Providing new opportunities for children to experience quality science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education is a top philanthropic priority for Battelle, as a leading research and development company.


"Every year, we challenge Central Ohio community organizations to show us new ideas that will educate and inspire a new generation of innovators," said Jeff Wadsworth, President and CEO of Battelle. "This year, they really delivered."


The Battelle STEM Grant Program supports Central Ohio organizations that link the creative disciplines to the STEM fields, including the learning objectives outlined by the Common Core State Standards. 


"STEM can get siloed into just meaning more math or science classes, but it's really about broadening a student's experience to ground learning in the real world," said Aimee Kennedy Vice President, Education, STEM Learning & Philanthropy. "These programs help us see just how creative and broad great education can be."


Battelle funded: 


Surge Columbus - a project of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Columbus Museum of Art, COSI, and WOSU - $140,000
Computing Career Corps Summer Bridge Program - a project of three local school districts and TECH CORPS - $90,000
Pilot Program for Career Exploration and 21st Century Skill Building for Middle School Students - a project of COSI - $64,000
smART: Spatial Visualization and Creativity in Middle School Engineering - a project of Beta by Design - $50,000
Sparks! Ignite 3000 Minds as Bodies Take 25 Million Steps - a project managed by the Arizona Technology Council Foundation and supported by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Columbus - $50,000
Par Excellence Urban Garden Leadership Program - a project of Par Excellence Academy - $40,000
The Wiggle Jig - a project of BalletMet Columbus - $25,000
Fairchild Challenge - a project of the Friends of the Conservatory - $25,000
Tree Tappers: Maple Syrup at Camp Ken-Jockety - a project of the Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland - $25,000
STEM: It Grows from a Seed - a project of the Highland Youth Garden - $15,000
Shadowbox Academy: STEM Rocks the Box and Beyond - a project of Shadowbox Live Theater - $10,000

About Battelle

Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org.