Toyota, together with Project Lead The Way (PLTW), awarded $150,000 in grants to eleven K-12 schools to help prepare students for the next generation of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) jobs.
Campbell County Middle School and Beechwood Elementary School were the Northern Kentucky schools among the winners.
The grants, funded by the Toyota USA Foundation, provide a curriculum focused on computer science, engineering, and biomedical science, while helping create engaging, hands-on classrooms for students to develop the knowledge and skills needed to thrive.
On Monday, representatives from 11 Kentucky schools gathered at Toyota as the recipients of grants ranging from $10,000 to $20,000. The funds from Toyota will be used to implement Project Lead The Way, a proven, STEM-focused curriculum. (Photo provided)
“As an engineer and someone who loves science, creating opportunities for more students to explore STEM education is exciting,” said Susan Elkington, president, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. “But, there is also an urgent and critical need to get more young people interested in STEM. Investing in programs like Project Lead The Way and developing partnerships with local schools is an important step in preparing Kentucky’s next generation of thinkers and doers for the jobs of the future.”
Last year, PLTW received a $2 million grant from the Toyota USA Foundation to support approximately 115 K-12 schools throughout the United States. PLTW offers complete K-12 pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science through its programs PLTW Launch (K-5), PLTW Gateway (6-8), and PLTW Computer Science (9-12), PLTW Engineering (9-12), and PLTW Biomedical Science (9-12).
Five Harrison County schools were among the grant recipients.
“This is our 17thyear partnering with Project Lead the Way to enhance STEM opportunities in our schools,” said Jenny Lynn Hatter, Chief Academic Officer for Harrison County Schools. “Starting as early as elementary school, PLTW creates cohesive learning pathways for students that lead to jobs. We’re excited to be able to offer the PLTW curriculum to more grade levels in our schools, after having a very successful PLTW pre-engineering program in our high school for many years.”
Grant recipients include:
Campbell Co. Middle School (Campbell Co.)
Northside Elementary School (Harrison Co.)
Southside Elementary School (Harrison Co.)
Westside Elementary School (Harrison Co.)
Eastside Elementary School (Harrison Co.)
Harrison Co. Middle School (Harrison Co.)
Robert D. Campbell Middle School (Clark Co.)
Ashland Elementary (Fayette Co.)
Oldham Co. Middle School (Oldham Co.)
Northside Elementary (Woodford Co.)
Beechwood Elementary School (Beechwood Independent)
PLTW is a nonprofit organization that provides a transformative learning experience for K-12 students and teachers across the U.S. PLTW empowers students to develop in-demand, transportable knowledge and skills through pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science.
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. Toyota partners with community, civic, academic, and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges.
The Toyota USA Foundation is a charitable endowment created to support education programs serving kindergarten through 12th-grade students and their teachers in the United States, with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). For more information about the Toyota USA Foundation.
