The Bosch Community Fund (BCF) has awarded more than $117,600 to seven organizations in Anderson, S.C., continuing its mission to prepare the workforce of the future for careers in STEM-related fields. Since 2013, the BCF has awarded nearly $415,000 STEM and environmental sustainability grants in the Anderson community.
According to Randy Bunch, director of human resources at the Bosch Anderson site, “We are excited to continue the mission set forth by Bosch and the BCF to partner with organizations in the local community in an effort to effectively impact STEM and environmental sustainability education for students and teachers.
“We consider this funding to be an investment in a variety of ways: It’s an investment in our students, who will become the workforce of tomorrow; it’s an investment in their teachers, who strive to find the most innovative ways to teach, coach and mentor; and ultimately, it’s an investment in our community. When industry and education work together to focus on STEM and environmental sustainability education today, we help secure high-quality and high-paying careers for those who will live in and further enrich our community in the future.”
The programs recognized by the Bosch Anderson site and the BCF all help develop the workforce of the future by fostering interest among students in the areas where there continues to be the greatest need: science, technology, engineering and math.
In April, Bunch presented the six previously announced BCF awards, totaling $250,000, at school board and other community meetings. In addition, awards for the Tri-County Technical College Foundation FIRST Robotics team No. 4965 and the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics Foundation (see list of grants below) were given earlier in the year.
For the awards presented today, Bosch Anderson site leadership invited local community and government leaders to their facility to participate in an awards ceremony involving several teachers and students.
“The associates at the Bosch Anderson facility feel part of the Anderson community,” Bunch said, “and we wanted to extend the same hospitality to the community that has long been extended to us.”
The following grants directly provide students in the Anderson community the opportunities to explore STEM education through interactive, hands-on activities:
• Anderson School District 1: This $12,636 grant supports a variety of district-wide, hands-on STEM education experiences. Activities include the Sailboat Challenge and necessary equipment; competition fees and corresponding professional development; robotics control starter kits; fuel-cell classroom kits and STEM-related apps.
• Anderson School District 2: This $18,940 grant supports District 2’s STEM Blitz, designed to provide teachers with training to effectively lead students in the development of STEM skills and awareness of STEM-related careers.
• Anderson School District 3: This $8,035 grant supports the purchase of an iPad mobile cart and 20 iPad minis to bolster opportunities for K-5 students in STEM education experiences and program delivery.
• Anderson School District 4: This $23,000 grant supports STEM i3, a district-wide model designed to integrate STEM project-based instructional strategies for all learners. This grant covers a variety of costs associated with the program including equipment, STEM learning events, competitions and Engineering by Design professional development curriculum.
• Anderson School District 5 Educational Foundation: This $35,000 grant supports key projects in Project STEM Discovery, including the Bosch Discovery Teacher Grants program and Camp Discovery. Camp Discovery is a two-week summer program that exposes STEM content, environmental habitats and scientific inquiry to students. The Bosch Discovery Teacher Grants program provides teachers the opportunity to apply for funds to support STEM education.
• Beautiful Places Alliance: This $10,000 grant supports the development of interpretative educational signage regarding natural resources for visitors of Sadler’s Creek State Park.
• Tri-County Technical College Foundation – FIRST LEGO League: This $10,000 grant supports the annual FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Tournament and Robotics Summer Camps, introducing students to programming, robotics and problem solving.
The following BCF awards, not previously announced, were given earlier in the year:
• South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) Foundation: This $5,000 grant supports the GSSM project-based summer day camp, CREATEng, for ninth-graders from across South Carolina’s Upstate. During the week-long camp, students will participate in daily engineering challenges exploring different fields of engineering, as well as mini team challenges that foster creativity and innovation, and teach the fundamentals of engineering design. Most importantly, CREATEng will introduce students to careers at manufacturing facilities and engineering firms through local field trips and guest speakers.
• Tri-County Technical College Foundation – Support for U.S. FIRST Robotics Team: This $18,500 grant supports U.S. FIRST Robotics Team 4965: FIRE and grant-eligible costs associated with its 2015 season.
