STEM grants for schools can be an incredible game changer when educators are awarded with some new instructional tools. As you might know from following this community, we award a $500 technology grant each month, providing one deserving educator with a chance to select any combination of classroom tech tools from our online store. For May, our grant recipient is Erika Simmons, a high school educator with The Academy of Urban Scholars in Ohio! Erika works among the traditionally underserved student populations and has one key goal of increasing access to STEAM opportunities. And, we're happy to help support her STEM instruction with new drones for their aerospace-related initiatives.
Erika has helped develop a school-wide aerospace and drone technology initiative to prepare students for various CS career opportunities. She's working on securing some STEM supplies for these students and even designing a curriculum specific to enabling them to develop key skills as it relates to this evolution of technology in the aerospace industry. Since one of those emerging areas includes drone technology, Erika decided that applying for this STEAM grant could help her acquire some of that classroom technology she needed. Further, while computer science has dominated STEM-related preparation in schools, Erika also knows it's not the only branch. Now, she is hoping to expose more students to this aerospace world, and we're happy to help with that.
A STEM grant to help underrepresented students.
We'll be providing Erika with a mix of STEAM tools through the grant donation, including some classroom drones. She plans to use them in aerospace lessons, of course, but she's also exploring ways to integrate them in additional areas of the curriculum. One of those specific disciplines is in the construction pathway within the school CTE program. Of course, construction workers nowadays might use drones to capture photos or videos from new angles to help in planning and design, so this is a perfect opportunity to ease students in to this world. Then, of course, she'll be able to create cross-curricular projects and various connections between piloting a drone and career readiness. With her aerospace initiative, Erika plans to expose students to everything from mapping and photography to inspections and even deliveries.
Students from Erika's school are among some of the most vulnerable in their area. Specifically, many Black students have consistently been underserved and suffered through longtime systemic barriers. And, as you might guess, that includes accessing opportunities for exploring STEAM disciplines. As evidenced by Erika taking action and applying for our STEM grant, she's very committed to reversing this trend. With this large disparity, however, it's common if students have minimal academic success, suffer from underemployment, and exhibit criminal behavior. Not only is Erika helping them develop STEM skills, she's also giving them an opportunity to participate in something meaningful and, ultimately, work towards earning certifications.
Overcoming adversity by increasing opportunity.
Besides long-term barriers, many children in the area of Columbus often suffer from amplified effects of the digital divide, too. The pandemic has also made things worse for many of them, even resulting in amplified poverty or displacement. Realizing how, without having equitable access to technology, STEM education experiences, and educational opportunities in general, these kids are more likely to slip through the cracks, Erika is fighting to help them discover a path forward. In fact, a key mission within The Academy for Urban Scholars community is bridging educational gaps for underrepresented students, specifically. Sometimes, they need grant awards or STEM donations to make this happen, but Erika and her colleagues remain fully committed to equipping students with the skills for our modern digital workforce.
To help turn the tide on some bleak statistics, including high school graduation rates and higher education completion, Erika plans to work with these students to enhance both their academic and career skills. She estimates that over 200 children will participate in this aerospace program and receive integrated training with specific career-related elements. More importantly, these in-school experiences will help them build a foundation for pursuing any advanced certifications. Of course, these opportunities may then enhance the likelihood of landing a better job, ensuring self-sufficiency, and starting to reverse economic trends in their area. In fact, in the area, someone with certifications in drone piloting can assist in many community and commercial projects, which is perfect for motivating students and showing them how valuable these tech opportunities can ultimately be.
Putting this month's STEM grant to use.
In learning aerospace skills, Erika knows that her students will have the opportunity to investigate various career fields. These include five main markets—military aircraft, missiles, space, commercial airliners, and aviation. In Ohio, specifically, there are hundreds of relevant business and institutions that align with these areas, which fits in perfectly with Erika's vision for exposing students to that STEM subset by applying for our grant. Her vision also involves increasing the percentage of minority students involved with aerospace programs. To her, that's a huge first step in increasing diversity in STEM industries and achieving greater equity in educational opportunities. With these awesome intentions driving this mission, we're excited for helping Erika improve these initiatives and drive even more progress!
Once again, we thank Erika for applying for our STEM grant and we congratulate her for this well-deserved selection. If you'd want to apply for our next grant, the application for the June award is now available. Any educator may apply, and recipients have access to all the technology tools from our store. That spans from robotics and coding kits to VR systems, 3D printing set-ups, and even early education STEM tools. If you have any questions about applying, visit our grant page or contact our team for help. For much more on EdTech, STEM, and maker education, follow us on Twitter and Instagram.