Brasher Falls CSD SLC High School, PI: Ronnie Tatro $1,947.76

Growing Our Own: A Farm-to-Table Journey at SLC High School
Brasher Falls CSD SLC High School’s conservation class will use their farm-to-table project to provide fresh-grown food to the school’s cafeteria. Students will learn how food can be grown year-round, pollination techniques, and pest management skills. Elementary students will visit the greenhouse and learn how food is grown, and extra food will be donated to the local food pantry. Grant funds will be used to purchase greenhouse supplies, soil, and various plants, from single-season bush beans and lettuces to multi-season grapes and pomegranates and more.

Genesee Valley Central School, PI: Carolyn Wright $3,632.00

Maple Syrup Production
Genesee Valley Central School District will purchase maple syrup equipment for Agriculture courses. Maple trees will be tapped on site, and the sap will be collected, processed, filtered, and graded. The syrup will be used for food science/added value projects and consumed in the school’s cafeteria. High school students will lead the project by managing the sugar bush, processing the sap, and leading tours to educate elementary school students about agricultural science and how their food is produced.

Citizenship & Science Academy of Syracuse Jr./Sr. High School, PI: Baglan Sarsen $5,000.00

Drone Field with Equipment
Citizenship & Science Academy of Syracuse Jr./Sr. High School will enhance STEM education by integrating drone technology into its curriculum. The grant will be used to purchase a U19 Drone Soccer “LEARN” Team Equipment Bundle, which will serve as a powerful educational tool to allow students to explore concepts such as aerodynamics, programming, and data collection. Students will learn how to operate the drone safely and effectively through guided activities while engaging in projects that promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Rust Belt Robotics “Rochester Community Robotics”, PI: Dillan Sayers $4,994.20

Rust Belt Robotics Educational Robotics Parts Funding
Rust Belt Robotics will use grant funds to purchase key reusable components for its 2024-2025 season robot. The parts include RoboRIO, motors, and electrical system components, which are essential for robot functionality and will provide long-term value as reusable tools. After the season, the components will be available to teach current and future students and showcased in outreach efforts across Buffalo. The team and community will benefit from hands-on experience with advanced robotics technology.

Villa of Hope, PI: Isha Torres $5,000.00

ROBOTS to REBUILD, RECOVER, and RENEW
Villa of Hope will use grant funds to purchase gaming desktop computers and programmable robots to assist students with social, emotional, and intellectual mental health needs. Students will utilize technology to interact with digital media through video and audio production software, including photo editing and Computer-Generated Imagery. Students will also use Computer-Aided Design (CAD) to build blueprints of real-life models.

Franklinville Central School, PI: Julie Sylor $524.00

Cardboard Box Arcade
Franklinville Central School fourth graders will create a cardboard box arcade using the story Caine’s Arcade as inspiration for its annual school STEAM Fair. Attendees of all ages will have the opportunity to enjoy playing the games at the fair. The fourth-grade students will work together to imagine, design, and develop the cardboard game and learn to measure, cut, and assemble the cardboard game.

Moriah Central School, PI: Arielle Brassard $3,600.00

Elementary Science Lab Grant
Moriah Central School will use grant funds to provide elementary school students with a science lab. The school currently does not have access to a science lab, so the grant will purchase a 12’ x 30’ outbuilding that will be used exclusively for the elementary science labs. The school will outfit the lab with materials so students can study science in a physical environment with hands-on activities and experiments.

Southside Academy Charter School, PI: Brad Seidman $4,779.86

STEM Innovator’s Club
Southside Academy Charter School’s STEM Innovator Club project will use programmable Ozobots and Sphero robots to enhance students' problem-solving and iterative design abilities. Students will gain insight into engineering principles and collaboration's importance in technology development. Students will work together to design, build, and program their robots to complete various challenges, such as obstacle courses and timed races. By showcasing their projects at school events, students will build confidence and communication skills while igniting interest in STEM fields in peers.

Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary School, PI: Alicia Costello $4,896.30

STEM Concepts Through Play: Putting Science into Recess
Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary School will use grant funds to purchase STEM materials for indoor recess for each classroom during the winter months. The school will buy educational STEM materials such as Design and Build Engineering Centers, Snap Design Monster Trucks, Magnetic Wonder Tiles, Playstix, and Turn and Learn Magnetic Gears. The materials will benefit all students from K-4th grade, and will be reused each year.

Newfane Elementary School, PI: Kathleen Reis $5,000.00

Robotics and STEM for All Ages
Newfane Elementary School will purchase Blue Bots, Indi Spheros, and Dash robots to provide age-appropriate robots for students in grades K-2. Without the grant, 3-4 students could share a robot for about 10 minutes weekly. With funding from the grant, each student will have access to a 1:1 robot, providing students with the opportunity to explore, experiment, and develop their coding abilities in a more hands-on and individualized manner, preparing them for success in the dynamic field of technology.

Jamesville-DeWitt High School, PI: Hank Cline $2,922.95

Jamesville-DeWitt High School Robotics
The Jamesville-DeWitt High School will purchase VEX V5 robots and robotics fields for students in the Jamesville-DeWitt GENIUS Olympiad Club and the high school technology and engineering class curriculum. The students will explore engineering concepts such as mechanics, programming, and teamwork as they design, build, and program robots for competitive challenges. The club students will participate in GENIUS Olympiad’s robotics competition and other competitions.

William Street School, PI: Shaun Canaski $4,972.77

Future Creators: Hands-On Innovation with 3D Printing and Laser Engraving
William Street School will purchase a Bambu Lab 3D printer and an xTool Laser Engraver to support its STEM curriculum. Replacing nonfunctional 3D printers will allow the school to continue offering its curriculum and allow students to engage in creative, skill-building projects with 3D modeling and rapid prototyping. These cutting-edge tools will benefit approximately 460 students by providing hands-on, interdisciplinary opportunities that prepare students for future careers.

Young Women’s College Preparatory Charter School, PI: Jason McMurray $2,040.00

Vertical Farming in the 7-12 Classroom: Teaching Sustainability with Hands-On Science
The Young Women’s College Preparatory Charter School will purchase Tower Garden Kits and will integrate vertical farming into 7-12 classrooms, providing students with practical experience with sustainable and environmental responsibility. The project will allow students to participate in the growth process, make connections between STEM disciplines, create awareness about resource allocation and food production challenges, and make connections to healthy eating habits and environmental initiatives.

Willsboro Central School District, PI: Sarah Paquette $4,800.00

Fostering Innovation and Lifelong Learning in Our Rural Community
Willsboro Central School District will establish a cutting-edge makerspace to serve its rural population of approximately 250 PK-12 students. The initiative aligns with its mission to provide equitable access to knowledge, technology, and resources that empower lifelong learning and creativity. The makerspace will transform its library into a hub of innovation, bridging the digital divide and nurturing the next generations of makers, entrepreneurs, and problem-solvers.

The Summit Center, PI: Kara Lee $4,724.00

Using Plants to Foster Skills in Students with Autism
The Summit Center’s students with autism will learn new skills by growing and caring for plants. Grant funding will be used to purchase gardening equipment for four school buildings. Indoor gardening systems will be set up at the primary and middle schools, and outdoor raised garden beds will be placed at the secondary school and vocational training center. The curriculum will promote student academic, communication, and social-emotional learning and provide greater independence and well-being.

Citizenship & Science Academy of Rochester Charter School, PI: Erin O’Toole $4,007.76

Enhancing Learning through Virtual Reality: A STEM Initiative for 4th Graders and Future Grades
Citizenship & Science Academy of Rochester will purchase Quest VR headsets to enhance its after-school math and science program for 4th-grade students, with the potential to use the VR headsets for 5th-12th-grade students as the school expands. Integrating virtual reality technology into the curriculum will foster an engaging, interactive learning environment closely aligned to its mission of promoting critical thinking, problem-solving, and a love of STEM subjects.

Mary Cariola Children’s Center, PI: Linda Henning $3,462.99

Learning Support for the Blind and Visually Impaired Students
Mary Cariola Children’s Center will purchase a 3D printer, materials, and software to support visually impaired students. Teachers for the Visually Impaired (TVI) will collaborate with each student’s support team to provide strategies to access curriculum and community support, including modifying materials, environmental modifications, and assistive technology support to ensure students learn and succeed to the best of their ability. 3D printing will be used for visually impaired people, along with braille and tactile models that help them navigate the world using their sense of touch.

Mount St. Mary Academy, PI: Dr. Siobhan Pawelczyk $4,962.11

Elevate Innovation: Enhance STEAM Center and Makerspace
Mount St. Mary Academy will refresh and expand the resources in its STEAM center and Makerspace to promote creativity, out-of-the-box thinking, and problem-solving. The new Project STEAM class for honors students and the Foundations STEAM classes will receive direct support. With the addition of mobile STEAM carts, the school will enrich other academic centers with creative resources. Materials will be used at its summer camp and taken “on the road” to provide workshops and projects to WNY partner middle schools.

Buffalo Public Schools, PI: Katie Agen $4,801.00

Access to scientific equipment for BPS students to competitively participate in the regional STEM Fair.
Buffalo Public Schools lacks the competitive resources for their students to do well at the Regional STEM fair. Although the science dept has the means to buy some materials, they cannot afford to buy the environmental sensors needed to get students out in the fields. With help from the funds of the grant, they will not only be able to afford to get these environmental sensors but also give students the opportunity and chance to do well at STEM fairs, that neighboring districts and private schools have

Syracuse Academy of Science Middle School, PI: Ahmadjan Ataniyazov $1,372.92

Fostering Future Innovators through Arduino Robotics Education in Middle School
SAS Middle School hopes to give students robotics instruction as a gateway to essential future skills like collaboration, communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Students gain a profound understanding of their surroundings through hands-on Arduino lessons grounded in real-world applications. They hope with these funds and getting the Arduino Education Starter kits, endeavors to immerse middle school scholars into a competitive landscape will ensure they are exposed to industry- standard technology, getting them ready for the future.

REACH Academy Elementary School, PI: Anna Chiavaroli $2,287.78

Weathering Broadcast Station Creation
Reach Academy Elementary School will use the Terra grant funds to develop a weather broadcasting station as part of a weather and environment-themed classroom to enhance the school’s science curriculum and promote interactive learning. School representatives met with meteorologists from WIVB to provide insight on the weather station’s development.

William G Houston Middle School, PI: Stacy Conti $4,746

Empowering Creativity and Innovation through 3D Printing and Laser Engraving
William G. Houston Middle School hopes to enhance education facilities with modern technology especially 3D printers and a laser engraver. These tools will empower their students to engage in hands-on learning experiences, foster creativity, and develop valuable skills necessary for the 21 st century. Both of these items will be integrated into their STEM curriculum.

Sauquoit Valley Elementary School, PI: Jackie Corleto $4,922.26

Reading to Making: A Library Makerspace
Sauquoit Valley Elementary School will expand its offerings for students within the library. The materials purchased will allow students to provide a makerspace area that will promote, innovation, creativity, and engagement through hands-on learning. This project will be used in a multitude of ways; in conjunction with literature, enhancing current STEM offerings and to help support social and emotional learning.

Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary School, PI: Richard Huyge $3,129

Arts Integration: From STEM to STEAM at SASES
Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary School is requesting funds for the purchase of music materials so that they may reintroduce and expand their current Music Program. When COVID restrictions made teaching music virtually impossible their school was forced to cut the program from their offerings. Now that restrictions have eased, they are excited to bring Music back for their students. This reintroduction of a Music Program will allow our students to express themselves and will assist in promoting academic success. They plan on integrating National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

Parishville-Hopkinton Central, PI: Sean Ellison $4,891.82

Upgrading Laboratory Resources
Parishville-Hopkinton Central has seen a large and frequent amount of turnover in their science department over several years. This has led to a lack of maintenance with their lab equipment. Funds from the grant will buy thirteen new microscopes, thus improving the quality of scientific work that students can do as well as creating more opportunities for students before they reach high school.

Syracuse Academy of Citizenship and Science, PI: Nicholas Giangiobbe $5,000

Seasonal Explorers: Creating an Outdoor Learning Oasis for Urban Elementary Students
Syracuse Academy of Citizenship and Science aims to establish an engaging outdoor education space within their urban elementary school. The space will serve as an innovative learning environment for their students, focusing on Fall and Spring. Each season will have an interactive zone that will help create a deeper connection to nature, boost academic performance, and enhance social and emotional development.

Newfane Central School District, PI: Nicholas Kiser $4,764.52

Newfane Middle School STEAM Room and MakerSpace
Newfane Central School District noticed a technology gap and that they needed more STEAM -related activities to enhance, engage, and empower students and teachers in the rural district. The Makerspace has evolved from serving a need to being a fundamental piece of their middle schooler’s daily life and education. To them, this grant will help kickstart the vision of a Makerspace and build the capacity for this classroom to enhance, engage and empower the lives of students and staff that use the space.

Citizenship and Science Academy of Rochester, PI: James Mathis $4,974.00

Robotics Club
Citizenship and Science Academy of Rochester would like to establish a Robotics Club that aligns with the school’s mission and vision of promoting STEM education. Their goal is to start a robotics club for send and third-grade scholars to build a strong foundation of knowledge for coding and robotics while preparing them for future competitions. With the funds, they will buy Vex Robotics kits, a storage cart and a competition board.

Royalton-Hartland Middle School, PI: Susan McLaughlin $3,704.72

I “Need” a Motor!
Royalton-Hartland ponders the question; “why do I need a motor? What does it have to do with earth science and our basic needs?” Throughout the year they plan on making multiple scientific discoveries via labs and projects based on how they need to obtain and sustain their basic needs and modern-day needs via a motor. Hands-on learning will help students learn how energy is transferred and how it supports their adaption to a changing environment and increased population.

Senator James H. Donovan Middle School, PI: Jessica Pasqualicchio and Victoria Stutzenstein-Mankd $4,981.71

Senator James H Donovan STEAM Manufacturing Lab
Senator James H Donovan Middle School is looking to start up a STEAM lab, this will potentially expose students to real-world examples of manufacturing and design. Preparing them to be successful and productive citizens. The students will be able to integrate STEAM into various classes and after-school programs. Robotics and Manufacturing help students learn about teamwork, leadership and collaboration skills, spatial reasoning, problem-solving, engineering design, and advanced programming.

Orchard View Alternative High school, PI: Nicholas Perino $4,144.13

Orchard View Learning Greenhouse
Orchard View Alternative High School is working on building a greenhouse outside the school building to learn more about plants. Their Environmental science class will be sponsoring and establishing the greenhouse for the benefit of all students in science classes and throughout the school in general. This greenhouse will allow them to establish research projects that both support the learning standards as well as general environmental awareness.

Alexander Jr/SR High, PI: Aaron Forgone $4,768.80

Maple Syrup Production
Alexander Central School District will purchase maple syrup production equipment to be used in our STEAM and Agriculture classrooms/courses. Maple trees will be tapped on site, then the sap will be collected and processed. This will be a student-led project with high school students working in partnership with elementary students during Maple Syrup Day to promote learning, science, agriculture and where our food comes from.

Rochester Academy of Science Charter School (RASCS), PI: Dr. Joseph Polat $5,000

Empowering Underserved Students through STEM Robotics Education
Rochester Academy of Science Charter School (RASCS) is launching a robotics excellence program. STEM activities, such as robotics, levels the playing field for low-income and minority students— this project allows students to have access to transformative STEM activities. By fostering a diverse and inclusive robotics team, the school seeks to break the cycle of poverty by empowering students with the skills and confidence needed to pursue 21 st Century STEM careers.

Paul V Moore High School , PI: Jennifer Schantz $3,129

Redhawks Rising- Student Generated Podcasts for Social-Emotional Learning and Storytelling
Redhawks Rising is a podcasting project, designed to provide a platform for the authentic voices and perspectives of today’s youth, to be spearheaded by a passionate group of high school students.. The aim is to explore a wide range of topics relevant to teenagers, from navigating the challenges of academics and social life to discussing critical issues such as mental health, diversity m and societal pressure. Teenagers have a unique insights to offer, and this platform will serve as a powerful medium for them to share their stories, ideas, and aspirations.

Rochester Academy Charter School (RACS), PI: Susan Sherwood $1,317.38

Get it in Gear: Building Motion into STEAM Classes.
The Get It in Gear unit will give students the opportunity to add gears, wheels, axels, cams, and cranks. Klutz Lego kits, Lego Bricks and Functions, Lego Bricks and Wheels, and ETI Engineering Building Blocks will provide developmentally appropriate materials. Students will be able to imagine and create their own moveable structures, both individually and in groups. In addition, they will use the kit manuals to practice the important skill of following pictorial and written directions.

Bishop Timon- St.Jude High School, PI: Francis Tessina $2,494

Building Creativity Through STEAM Education
Bishop Timon - St. Jude High School students in enhancing their creativity and innovation through collaborative STEAM classwork. Students will work together to use the laser engraver/vinyl cutter and heat press to participate in authentic, project-based, interdisciplinary educational opportunities. For instance, if a Social Studies class wants to design and construct monuments as part of an American history unit, they will be able to build what they imagined or drew by using the new STEAM equipment and applying their math and geometry skills. Such organic curricular intersections will foster deeper student engagement and encourage creativity in exploring topics ranging from Shakespearean literature to earth science.

Utica Academy of Science Charter School, PI Hummet Babacan and Omer Taha Uzumcum $4,876.02

Physics Lab & Robotics Team
Utica Academy of Science will purchase instructional materials needed for hands-on learning opportunities in physics. Students will benefit from inquiry driven lab and instruction in the following topics: Work, Energy, Electricity, Light, Sound, and Optics. Also, students participating on the robotics team will compete in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics competition. In preparation for the competition, students will have hands-on experience that fosters teamwork, problem-solving skills, and a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Utica Academy of Science Elementary Charter School, PI: Merisa Muhic- $5,000

One Band, One Sound: Making Meaningful Music
The Utica Academy of Science Elementary Charter School has been growing its music program since the school opened in 2018. Their newest initiative is a Band Program for grades 4 and 5. Students are given the option to select an instrument and participate in the concert band, which will become a group that eventually performs for the school and community. Using grant funds, three instruments will be added to the school’s instrument collection. The Elementary Band is one more way the school lives out its “One Band, One Sound” school theme.

Buffalo Academy of Science Charter High School, PI: Joseph Polat- $5,000

Drone and Droning After-School and Summer Program
Buffalo Academy of Science Charter High School will purchase educational drones for its Drone and Droning Program which will be a semester-long class for the after-school program and its annual summer school. The class will explore and integrate math, science, technology, and logic through fun, practical activities. Students will learn Block, Python, and JavaScript coding by executing code on small, indoor-friendly drones.

Syracuse Academy of Citizenship and Science Elementary School, PI: Nick Giangiobbe- $4,983.90

Syracuse Academy of Citizenship and Science Lego Club
Syracuse Academy of Citizenship and Science will purchase a SPIKE Prime Hybrid Learning Classroom Pack for the school’s LEGO Club in order to build foundational engineering skills for students. The club will have two semesters: an introduction to LEGO coding and robotics and advanced coding and robotics which will culminate in a LEGO Battle Bots project where students design, build and compete against one another and at the yearly Battle Bots competition at the Museum of Science and Technology in downtown Syracuse.

Kendall Elementary School, PI: Wendy O’Hearn- $903.60

Pumpkin Patch Problem Solving
Kendall’s Pumpkin Patch Problem Solving project will involve K-12 students in the school district establishing raised beds for a garden located at Kendall Elementary School. A garden offers an ideal area for teaching and learning about plant science, biology, chemistry, soil science, and math. Students will develop a deeper understanding of the natural world when they are actively engaged in scientific inquiry.

Bishop Timon- St. Jude High School, PI: Christopher Rusin- $3,700

Drones; Qualifying for Recreational and Commercial Flight
Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School students will gain valuable experience piloting small, aerial vehicles with this grant-funded program. Students will use modules designed to progressively build their knowledge and experience, moving from basic piloting missions to recreational pilot licenses and advanced drones, and culminating with the preparation to tackle the FAA Commercial Pilots License exam. Students will use their drone skills to promote the entire school from filming promotional videos to capturing highlighted events, sports, and gatherings.

Buffalo City Schools, PS #54 Dr. George E Blackman School of Excellence, PI: Lindsey Hanes- $2,259.16

STEAM Lab Enrichment
Buffalo’s PS#54 Dr. George E. Blackman School of Excellence will purchase MakerBot Sketch Classroom 3D printers to enrich their STEAM lab. Students will have the opportunity to become problem solvers and critical thinkers through engaging lessons where students identify problems, hypothesize a solution, design and create a project, and test the result using the 3D printer. The school will provide teachers, the extended learning program, and the community with a mobile STEAM lab which will be used in various areas in the school and during community events.

Syracuse Academy of Science Middle School, PI: Jennifer Kolbasook- $4,598

Introduction to Robotics
Syracuse Academy of Science Middle School will purchase Hummingbird Bit Classroom Sets allowing students to combine creative story writing, coding, and an introduction to robotics by creating any robot they can imagine. The exposure to robotics will spark 5th-grade students’ interest and creativity and will prepare them to enter robotics competitions as 6 th and 7th-grade students.

Summit Academy, PI: Kara Lee- $3,328.82

Supporting STEM Interests in Students with Autism
Summit Academy will purchase STEM-related activities and books for the elementary building media center. The materials will help foster new skills by drawing on students’ natural curiosity. Students will explore new concepts and strengthen their special interests, a key aspect of learning in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Syracuse Academy of Science High School, PI: Jessica Straub- $4,848.33

Connections and Community through Exploration in Science
Syracuse Academy of Science High School will purchase life vests and other snorkeling gear to support their new Marine Ecology practicum at Gerace Field Institute on San Salvador Island, Bahamas. Students will take daily snorkeling trips to study the marine ecosystem, and explore the geology, natural history, and culture of San Salvador. The school will also purchase camping gear to support the school’s congressional awards program which engages students in a variety of activities including camping expeditions across New York State.

Emmet Belnap Intermediate School, PI: Mike Finnerty- $2,932.27

LEGO Boost Build Project
Emmet Belnap Intermediate School will purchase LEGO Boost Creative Toolboxes providing student teams with the opportunity to create, build, and code LEGO projects that can perform basic robotic functions. The reusable nature of LEGO will allow the school to reach every student in the building with years of rewarding building and coding experiences.

Marathon Central School, PI: Crystal Aukema- $5,000

Explore Agriculture
Marathon Central School will purchase materials to support their 8th-grade AgXplore class which works to educate students as consumers on the best way to grow and choose agricultural products. The program will increase students’ critical thinking and problem-solving as they learn farm-to-table plant science, animal science, environmental science, and the management of natural resources.

Mount St. Mary Academy, PI: Katherine Spillman- $1,317

The Whole Tomato: MSM Agricultural Project
The Whole Tomato is an agricultural project for Mount St. Mary Academy students to investigate a variety of topics in food production with the support of their STEAM division. With an overarching goal of better understanding the complexities of food access, students will engage in a hands-on learning project of planning, designing, and building germination systems, and planting up to 500 tomato seedlings. The plants will ultimately be donated to community gardens.

Eden Central School District, PI: Andrew Brunner- $2,099.93

Eden Field Data Collection: Global Positioning Systems
Eden Central School District will purchase Garmin eTrex 32x GPS Navigators to collect accurate geospatial data on the school campus. Environmental Science class students will create accurate field maps and use the GPS Navigator throughout the year for dendrology, water monitoring, and ecosystem analysis reports. The school’s mapping data will assist the Science Technology class with managing the sugar bush.

Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women, PI: Elizabeth Guzzetta- $4,982.31

Creative Minds Mobile STEM Lab
Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women will expand its STEM program through the creation of a mobile STEM cart that focuses on coding and engineering design. The purchase of LEGO Education SPIKE Prime Sets, Sphero Bolt Coding Robots, and other materials will engage the students in engineering challenges that incorporate the use of coding in blocks, Java-Script, Scratch, and Python. The materials purchased will enable more classes to integrate higher-level, real-world technology into their curriculum and engage the students through cross-discipline applications.

Truxton Academy Charter School, PI: Thomas Brown and Heather Boyden- $2,000

Truxton Academy Robotics Labs
Truxton Academy Charter School will purchase iPads to use with Sphero robots they already have as a part of their high-tech maker space in their K-6 school which fosters opportunities for exploratory learning through hands-on, project-based learning activities. The iPads will be used to remotely control robots and to learn about QR codes, mapping, design, video creation, and other coding websites.

East Hill Elementary School, PI: Jennifer MacArthur- $4,515

East Hill Robotics Club
East Hill Elementary School 3 rd and 4th-grade students in the East Hill VEX GO Robotics Club will participate in the Ocean Science Exploration Challenge. Students will build and drive a robot modeled after a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) used by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. The robot will replicate some ROV tasks such as moving sensors and fixing pipelines. As students work on the various tasks, they will make connections between their actions and real-life research and technology in the ocean.

Arkport Central School, PI: Connie Karr- $4,824.72

ACS Sugar Shack Expansion
Arkport Central School will purchase maple syrup production equipment to upgrade their current system to one that is more efficient and aligned with more typical production methods. The equipment will be used as a part of the Agriculture Studies I course. Increased production will allow students to raise funds through maple syrup sales to create a self-supporting program.

Athena Middle School, PI: Corey Skinner- $3,997.81

Model Fabrication and STEAM Club Program
Athena Middle School will purchase a 3D E2 printer, filament and a laser engraver/cutter which will allow STEAM Club and Tech 701 students to fabricate intricate models of objects designed within Unreal, Sketchup and Tinkercad. Students will be challenged to create their own unique design, and STEAM Club students will be encouraged to submit projects to Terra’s regional science fair.

Bolivar-Richburg Elementary Central School, PI: Carol McClellan- $1,531.46

BRCS WEE Center Campus Expansion
The Boliver-Richburg Central School WEE Center focuses on environmental and agricultural education, helping to teach children about food production and promote self-reliance. The grant will expand the WEE center’s mission to elementary students so they learn the basics of agriculture and assist in contributing to the overall food health of the area. Through the grant, four raised garden beds will be built and used to develop an outdoor WEE Center classroom.

Buffalo Academy of Science Charter Middle School, PI: Joseph Polat- $5,000

Mobile STEM Lab
Buffalo Academy of Science Charter Middle School will purchase materials to stock a Mobile STEM lab that will be taken to Grade 5-8 science classrooms; STEM courses and investigations will be carried out in robotics, coding, machine control, motion control, production, 3D printing, and flight and media industry. Student growth will be measured using surveys at the beginning and end of the year.

Buffalo Academy of Science Charter II Elementary, PI: Joseph Polat- $5,000

Mobile STEM Lab
Buffalo Academy of Science Charter II Elementary School will purchase materials to stock a Mobile STEM lab that will be taken to Grade K-3 regular classrooms; STEM courses and investigations will be carried out in basic engineering, motors, circuits, principals of balance, machine control, coding, and related STEM skills. Student growth will be measured with post-investigation rubric scale assessments and using surveys at the beginning and end of the year.

Dr. King Elementary, PI: Steven Vincent- $4,498

LCS Agriculture and Technology Academy
Dr. King Elementary will purchase VEX IQ Classroom Bundles to enable intermediate students to develop, create and program robots. Students will work towards individual, team and class goals using a notebook to document the process. Completed robotics teams will compete in class, interschool and other Covid-friendly competitions.

Frontier Senior High School, PI: George Ouimet- $1,799.86

Frontier Pre-Engineering Pathway Development
Frontier Senior High School will purchase three 3D printers and filament, increasing student access to STEM resources and field-related experiences. The students will gain experience with engineering design, CAD and the Engineering Design Process, and allow Frontier to provide cutting-edge learning experience for the Technology students in the pre-engineering pathway.

The Friends of the Addison Youth Center, PI: Charlette Smith- $1,000

From STEM to STEM at the Addison Youth Center
The Friends of the Addison Youth Center will purchase programming supplies and materials for the Science Discovery Center’s Educational Program. The program is designed to help engage youth in math and sciences by using hand-on, interactive experiments and activities; the center also provides weekly science programs and homework help in math and science.

Hagan Elementary School, PI: Kim Scoralick- $1,686.42

Trades Enrichment and Exploration
Hagan Elementary School will purchase tools, a 3D printer, a sewing machine and a Cricut Maker 3 to create hands-on opportunities for the Trades Enrichment and Recess Explorers groups. Students that may not be on the college path will have the opportunity for positive social interactions doing hands-on activities and the opportunity to develop leadership skills.

Lyncourt Union Free School District, PI: Alicia Flinn- $3,373

Tech Ed Tigers
Lyncourt Union Free School District will purchase a band saw, jointer, benchtop sander and other tools to support a manufacturing-based class where students design and create products that are marketed and sold in the school store to students, parents, school staff and the community. Money generated from sales will be used to buy future supplies to create a sustainable program. The National Junior Honor Society will manage the store finances and sales.

Mill Road Primary School, PI: Erin Hayes- $2,847.06

Mill Road Primary Imagineers
The grant will provide Mill Road Primary “Imagineers” with regular access to hands-on STEM tools located on mobile carts filled with STEM items including magnets, LEGOS, building structures, drilling patterns, gears, and accessories. Students will be encouraged to manipulate, assemble, construct and explore as they build and create the designs they imagine.

Notre Dame Jr./Sr. High School, PI: Alana Caprio- $1,600

How Will We Feed a Growing Population in the Future?
Notre Dame Jr./Sr. High School will purchase a hydroponics growing center for students taking the “Engineering for Life” class. Students will be encouraged to evaluate global scientific challenges especially those focused on Earth’s resources of food and water. Students will work with all aspects of the hydroponics center from assembling the unit to preparing entrees with the items grown.

Niagara Charter School, PI: Sherrie Tracy- $5,000

Learning Expeditions in STEAM
Niagara Charter School will purchase three mobile STEAM Carts to provide students with learning expeditions in STEAM. Students in K-3 will be engaged in hands-on learning that supports collaboration, critical thinking and engagement. The STEAM Carts will be used throughout the year to ensure students gain and retain foundational knowledge in science, math, and cross-content critical thinking.

Perry Central School District, PI: Veronique Krohn- $3,966.55

The Swarm
Perry Central School District will use funds to build a sustainable apiary for the school community. Students will participate in identifying the ideal environment needed for bees to thrive. Students will be involved in every step of the process, creating pollinator gardens, assembling hive boxes, collecting honey and much more. The school hopes to engage local beekeeping organizations and provide student-led community workshops as the program grows.

Rochester Academy Charter School, PI: Susan Sherwood- $2,220.98

Exploring Circuits: Connecting, Converting, and Beyond
Rochester Academy Charter School will use Snap Circuits to explore fundamental engineering, electronics, and circuitry concepts. Students will learn how circuits function using standards on the structure and properties of matter, forces and their interactions, and energy. As the students gain experience and begin to explore more advanced and original designs, they will use the design process to imagine possibilities, plan, build, test and revise.

Summit Academy, PI: Kara Lee- $4,867.88

STEM Clubs at Summit Academy
Summit Academy will establish eight STEM-focused clubs for secondary school students. Students will develop their strengths and passions using programmable robots, LEGO Gadgets, microscopes and other STEM-related equipment and activities. Summit Academy serves children with autism and other developmental disabilities whose needs cannot be met by their local school district.

Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary School, PI: Victoria Toper- $5,000

Decodable Readers for Student Intervention
Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary School will expand their decodable book reading materials for students in K-3. The materials purchased will give students the opportunity to expand on their reading knowledge in the classroom, and Academic Intervention Support teachers will use the materials to support additional interventions with high-risk students.

Tapestry Charter School, PI: Krystina Burow- $2,939.79

Introducing Sphero to Tapestry Students and Teachers
Tapestry Charter School will use Sphero robots to encourage K-12 students to develop their curiosity, skills and knowledge using the fundamentals of robotics. The school will develop curriculum to use the robots in the classrooms at all grade levels, provide monthly teacher training, set up an after-school club, and connect with other schools to help promote STEAM.

Utica Academy of Science Elementary, PI: Genevieve Campanella- $2,820.35

Growing a Multi-Use Library/Media Center
Utica Academy of Science Elementary School will expand their Library/Media Center by increasing: the collection of professional resources for staff; support materials for parents; and books, kits and electronic resources for students. Library management tools will be purchased, and the space will be used for online and traditional reading, individual and group activities, and “Maker Space” projects for hands-on learning.

Villa of Hope School, PI: Jonathan Meagher-Zayas- $5,000

STEAM Integration with 3D Printers
Villa of Hope will purchase 3D printers to integrate arts education with STEM studies. Using the 3D printers, the school will prepare students to meet emerging technology needs and skills across all coursework. The goal is for students to use an interdisciplinary approach to strengthen their confidence and skill set for future education and employment opportunities.

Terra Science and Education brought a nationwide STEM program to CNY region from USDA AFRI PD-STEP program, through Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM to support the Teacher Efficacy in STEM Through Aquaponics in Syracuse.

Terra designed a community-centric, STEM-relevant professional development experiences using aquaponics for teachers in CNY area schools. The project provides a unique and sustainable way to broadly integrate aquaponics into the classroom environment, especially for grades 5-7, with the ultimate goals of equipping teachers and students to design sustainable food systems for urban areas and increasing effective agricultural design and practice into the STEM landscape.

In 2021, Terra provided training, equipment set, and technical support related to aquaponics and aquaponics curricula for 27 grades 5-7 teachers from 9 School Districts in New York State including Syracuse Academy of Science, East Syracuse Minoa, Marcellus, Buffalo Science Academy, Webster, Delhi, Onondaga, Saquoit Valley, Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship, and Rochester Academy for Young Men. Each teacher received an aquaponics equipment, materials, and PD equivalent to around $3,000 which makes the total funding distributed around $78,000, which is supported by USDA.

Contact Dr. Richard Beal at [email protected] if you have a question or would like to set up a similar pilot program at your school or disctrict.

Teachers and Schools in the free aquaponics program:

Abraham Lincoln School No. 22, Rochester, NY, PI: Colleen Tyler - $2,875.84

Learn to Code
Abraham Lincoln School No. 22 will help 3rd- 6th grade students learn the basics of coding. The grant project will use Sphero littleBits to assist students and their families learn coding skills with the goal to inspire them to be inventors and problem solvers.

Rochester School for the Deaf, Rochester, NY, PI: Susan Ogden - $1,066.52

Exposing Deaf Students to STEM Careers
Rochester School for the Deaf will use BOCES 4 Science STEM toolkits to introduce STEM topics and careers to 5th- 8th grade students. The grant provides hands-on projects, experiments and workbooks to help students discover and explore STEM topics and possible STEM careers.

School for the Arts, Rochester, NY, PI: Paul M. Geary- $2,784.77

Discovering Drones
School for the Arts will use drones to provide students with the opportunity to build, program and pilot their own drones in collaborative teams. Students will be given a series of weekly problems to overcome, including programming challenges and navigating physical obstacle challenges. A final challenge will test all of the combined skills they have learned.

St. Ambrose Academy, Rochester, NY, PI: Christine Deutsch - $5,000

Using Technology to Increase Educational Resources and Community Involvement
St. Ambrose Academy will purchase three new Smartboards to support trained teachers to develop programs such as virtual trips to museums and the Philharmonic. St. Ambrose’s intergenerational music program with a local senior living facility will also resume.

Dr. King Elementary School, Syracuse, NY PI: Andrea Buckvold- $1,7997

STEAM at Dr. King
Dr. King Elementary School will purchase a MakerBot Sketch Classroom Kit. The grant project will allow students to print 3-D items that the students have designed. The printers and materials will be available to 4th and 5th grade students individually, and to all other students by classroom. Teacher training and curriculum resources will be available to all teachers.

Syracuse Academy of Science High School, Syracuse, NY PI: Pam Smith - $2,500

Robotics Club and Engineering Classroom Capacity Building
Syracuse Academy of Science High School will use robotics and engineering kits to provide students with the opportunity to develop their collaborative engineering skills as they participate in a variety of competitions.

Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary School, Syracuse, NY, PI: Victoria Toper - $4,308.93

Makerspace Resource Room
Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary School will create a STEAM room equipped with Makerspace resources. The grant will provide students with hands-on manipulatives to use as they enhance their creative thinking, problem solving and collaborative skills.

Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship, Syracuse, NY, PIs: Hayley Merritt and Ryan Thayer - $1,898.14

STEM on the Go
Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship will purchase materials to support high quality, engaging, STEM-based projects for students to work on at home. The program will help students develop their problem solving and critical thinking skills, as well as expand their creativity, flexibility and curiosity.

Brasher Falls Central School District, Brasher Falls, NY, PI: Alexandra Clark - $3,700

BFCSD Science Capacity Building Initiative
Brasher Falls Central School District will continue to expand the technology within the science departments of the middle and high school. The grant project will add incubators and microcentrifuges to laboratory equipment being used to improve students’ laboratory science skills, enrich the science program, and inspire Brasher Fall students’ interest in science.

A. A. Kingston Middle School, Potsdam, NY, PI: Jesse Peterson - $5,000

CAD/3D Printing
A. A. Kingston Middle School will use Makerbot Replicator Plus 3D printers that will allow each student to print their own Computer-Aided Design (CAD) creations and support CAD/3D printing as a part of the technology curriculum for future years.

Utica Academy of Science Elementary School, Utica, NY, PI: Genevieve Campanella - $5,000

Launching a Library/Media Center
Utica Academy of Science Elementary School will create a library/media center for students and lifelong learners. The center will be stocked with books, magazines, hands-on learning materials, technology tools, and supervised activities for scholars and their families, providing a “positive, diverse learning environment where compassion, curiosity, and learning will be nurtured.”

Ticonderoga Elementary School, Ticonderoga, NY PI: Kerry Fingland - $4,976

STEAM Technology Station for Grades 4-6
Ticonderoga Elementary School will purchase Ipads and supporting technology to create a STEAM Technology Station. The station will be available for art, music, technology, home and careers, and subject-area teachers to use for project-based learning that builds “real world” skills that can be applied towards future jobs in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics.

Marcus Whitman High School, PI: Jonathan Pragle - $4,982.14

Canoes at Marcus Whitman Outdoor Campus
Marcus Whitman High School will purchase three new canoes to use at their Marcus Whitman Outdoor Campus. The canoes will allow students to use scientific equipment to study aquatic ecology in Living Environment classes, topography in Earth Science classes, water quality in Chemistry classes, and numerous other lessons in elective classes.

McConnellsville Elementary School, PI: Emily Closinski - $971.03

Lighting It Up in Kindergartenhe
McConnellsville Elementary School will use a light table and accessories to allow kindergarten students to explore using their sense of sight while manipulating objects that interact with light. The table can be used for all subjects and provide hands-on experiences for students.

Letchworth Central School District, PI: Julie Pernesky - $5,000

LCS Agriculture and Technology Academy
Letchworth Central School District will use funds to purchase work benches, soil testing kits, a hand held refractometer, a small engine compressor and a variety of other materials. The tools and resources will equip students to partner with local farms, businesses and professionals to conduct research and develop unique solutions to contemporary issues.

Fitzhugh Park Elementary School, Oswego, NY, PI: Nicholas Little - $490.24

Green House for Healthy Eating
TEAM Fitzhugh will extend its red worm composting project to include an inside, 5-tiered greenhouse that uses the compost to generate fresh vegetables. Students will track the garden growth, present information on vegetable health benefits, and encourage other classes to create their own garden.

Odessa-Montour Central School District, Odessa, NY, PI: Christopher Wood - $3,053

Weather Watch
The Odessa-Montour Central School District will install a Davis weather station, a set of receivers and a hub that will send data to the cloud making weather data available to the entire community. Students will learn to describe and measure sky cover, temperature, wind, humidity, and precipitation; and will try their hands at weather forecasting, and presenting their weather forecasts to the entire student body on live-streaming TV during morning announcements.

Fall Creek Elementary School, Ithaca, NY, PI: Maureen Gilroy - $3,550

Rigamajig for Design and Problem Solving
The school librarian will coordinate with teachers to enhance social studies and science lessons to provide students with opportunities to design, create and problem solve in the library. A Rigamajig kit will make mastering standards exciting and more realistic with solid and sturdy products that can actually be used to help to solve a real world problem. Rigamajig kits will give students an opportunity to work collaboratively and use their imagination to make something or solve a STEM challenge.

Maine Memorial Elementary, Maine, NY, PI: Sara Edwards - $3,494.07

Creating 21st Century Innovators
The Maine Memorial Elementary School will provide all students from early kindergarten to fifth grade with the opportunity to use various STEAM activities and technology that will prepare them to become 21s century learners, enhancing their creativity, inquisitiveness, collaboration, problem solving and critical thinking skills.

Victor Primary School, Victor, NY, PI: Michele Linse- $2,020.87

Coding a Culture of Creativity and Innovation: Project Spark Week
Victor Primary School will provide a much needed STEM boost through the purchase of 12 Sphero Spk+ robots and controllers, creating an innovative investment impacting over 1,500 students over at least 4 years. The librarian will create a week-long classroom experience scaffolded at 3 levels so minimally trained classroom teachers can adopt the robotics for a week and use them effectively in student partnerships.

Brasher Falls Central School District, Brasher Falls, NY, PI: Alexandra Clark- $3,541

BFCSD Science Capacity Building Initiative
Brasher Falls CSD will purchase STEM equipment to serve students in both the middle school and high school science classrooms and serve students doing independent research; the equipment may also potentially be used by elementary school teachers in their classrooms. The new equipment will build Brasher Falls’ science and technology capacity in hopes of preparing for the NGSS, improving laboratory science skills, enriching the science program, and inspiring interest in science.

Homer Intermediate School, Homer, NY, PI: Kathleen Totman - $4,299.09

Amazing “Field Trips” are Now Possible with Virtual Reality
Homer Intermediate School Library will purchase virtual reality (VR) headsets kits and Merge cubes to provide augmented reality (AR) experiences. Students will have the opportunity to virtually “visit” places around the world, and venture into a variety of educational, interactive experiences.

Morris Central School, Morris, NY, PI: Heather Grant- $4,000

Elementary Science Laboratory Revitalization Project
This first step in updating the Elementary Science lab includes purchasing STEM activities, technology and laboratory kits and supplies, in order for teachers to work with students on inquiry-based, hands-on science activities.

Stockbridge Valley Central School, PI: Melissa Grogan- $2,988.90

Breaking Barriers Though Virtual Reality
Bringing virtual reality technology into the classroom will provide the students in this small, rural school with cultural and educational experiences that they would otherwise not have access to in the community.

Van Duyn Elementary, Syracuse, NY, PI: Maura White- $1,133.50

Deepening Science Inquiry of the NYSSLS in Grades K-2
Van Duyn Elementary will build NYSSLS-based kits for each K-2 classroom that will focus on all required science domains to ensure deep understanding of foundational knowledge, practices and cross-cutting concepts.

Merton Williams Middle School, Hilton, NY, PI: Angela Boccuzzi-Reichert- $2,804.10

How does our garden grow?
Career and Technical Education Classes (CTE) will build and maintain a greenhouse to provide students with real-world, hands-on experiences that align to the current curriculum. The greenhouse project will be a collaborative effort between construction, agriculture, entrepreneurship and international culinary CTE classes.

Utica Academy of Science Charter School/Elementary, Utica, NY, PI: Genevieve Campanella- $1,400

Full STEAM Ahead at Utica Academy of Science Elementary School
Focused learning activities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) will provide authentic, realistic and developmentally appropriate experiences for student scholars and their parents. School goals include engaging parents and involving community members in school programs, as well as encouraging interdisciplinary learning units at each grade level.

Casey Park Elementary, Auburn, NY, PI: Shannon DelloStritto- $1,832.76

All STEAM Ahead Phase 2
Engaging STEAM activities will continue to be provided for kindergarten through sixth grade students with even more opportunities to explore, craft and create assorted ideas on different STEAM tasks.

Onondaga Community College, Syracuse, NY, PI: Tim Saka- $4,850

Makerspace- Robotics Program
The OCC Library Makerspace mission is to provide classes, programming, and resources that promote student learning through exploration and hands-on activities in a community-based, inclusive environment. This project will introduce students to robotics, enable students to learn basic robotics programming, and encourage students to develop their interest and skills in robotics.

Bloomfield Elementary School, Bloomfield, NY, PI: Beth Falsone- $907.74

Makey-Makey Re-Invents the Classroom
This enrichment program will be offered to all 4th grade students. After learning how to create a circuit and code, students will design a Makey-Makey project that will have them interacting with the world around them in unique and creative ways.

Wheeler Elementary School, Nedrow, NY, PI: Jessica Matzke- $1,680

Empowering Global Learners with Sphero
Through this hands-on project, students will use Spheros BOLT robots as digital tools to help broaden their perspectives, enrich their computer science learning, and inspire curiosity, creativity and invention through connected play and coding. Students will collaborate with teachers and classmates, working effectively in teams toward a common goal. Spheros will be implemented across all subject areas and in afterschool STEM Squad and Technology Internship clubs. Students can publish their work through the existing global Sphero network.

Oxford Academy and Central Schools, Oxford, NY, PI: Uday Mukhlis- $3,209.53

Preparing for the Future: Full STEAM Ahead!
Oxford has converted an old bus garage into a half-million-dollar STEAM Academy. This project provides materials and supplies for the STEAM initiative with the purchase of the littleBits Pro Library and additional materials that will help students learn.

Frankfort-Schuyler Central School District, Frankfort, NY, PI: Jordan Purinton- $2,883.65

Frankfort-Schuyler FLL (First Lego League)
A Fist Lego League school team will be formed at Frankfort-Schuyler Middle School to raise interest and awareness of STEM. The students can continue to pursue their interests utilizing the strong, high school STEM education programs already available.

McGraw CSD Elementary School, McGraw, NY, PI: Susan Prince- $2,500

McGraw Afterschool Enrichment Program
McGraw’s afterschool Enrichment Program offers a variety of experiences for students in grades 1-5. Current offerings such as Science Club, Lego Mania, Nature Crafts, Kids Coding, FabMaker and Cooking will continue to offer engaging STEAM opportunities to students.

Remsen Central School District, Remsen, NY, PI: Anne Reilly- $1,941

Science Fair Technology Integration
This program will provide Remsen’s Junior High Science Fair students with support to develop more complex projects through the integration of technology into their presentations. Students will learn to code using MakerBit+R kits, and the acquisition of a 3D printer will allow students to design and create solutions to scientific problems, leading to innovative projects and increased student engagement.

Sherbune-Earlville Central School District, Sherburne, NY, PI: Jonathan Ryan- $3,500

Sherburne-Earlville GLOWFORGE
A Glowforge Pro laser printer/cutter/etcher, filter and materials will be added to Sherburne-Earlville’s Makerspace where it will benefit students K-12. Elementary students can create personalizing gifts, gears, devices and working models. MS/HS students can create items for team fundraisers, art portfolios, set design pieces, FIRST Robotics, marketing class, and windmills and bridges for the SUNY Poly STEM Outreach Competition.

Liverpool Middle School, PI: Kellie Bouthillier – $5,000

Virtual Reality for STEM Education
This project uses virtual reality in the classroom to guide students into a deeper understanding of STEM concepts. Through this immersive technology students will be able to better explore topics that are conceptually difficult to navigate, such as the desert, rain forests, or the ocean.

Van Buren Elementary School, PI: Sarah Parrish – $1,540

Van Buren STEM Club
Under this project students will collaboratively explore, investigate and discover subjects such as science, math, technology, and engineering in an after-school learning environment. Students in the club extend their learning through a series of hands on experiments and challenges including working with Ozobots and Makey Makey kits, and other engineering and design manipulatives to explore coding, robotics, and the engineering design process.

Bolivar Road Elementary School, PI: Renee Burgess – $5,000

Sensory Friendly ChillSpa
Under this project students will have access to a peaceful multi-sensory environment. The room will help students to self-regulate their body and brain, which then carries over into the classroom learning environment.

East Hill Elementary School, PI: Danielle Tuttle – $3,600

East Hill Coding Club
This project will implement a coding group where boys and girls grades 2-5 can learn coding and computer skills before school, giving them an expanded view of future possibilities available in STEM.

Fayetteville Manlius High School, PI: Ben Gnacik– $3,481.85

Bringing The World To Our Students
This project allows students to be active in environments in order to cement learning standards using Next Generation Science Standards methods of beginning units with an experience or concept. Students will virtually visit ecosystems that textbooks and photos often struggle to make relevant.

Utica City School District, PI: Adam Lovecchio – $4,911.36

Robotics/Coding Lessons/Club
Under this project students will learn how to build and program robots using Vex Robots in class and after school in the Robotics Club. Students will gain valuable knowledge in programming and engineering as well as an understanding of the parts of a computer.

Sauquoit Valley Elementary School, PI: Mark Putnam – $2,018

STEAM Studio/Rube Goldberg Challenge
Under this project a STEAM studio will be created so that students will be able to collaborate, design, and build different objectives. The first challenge will be the 4th grade students building a Rube Goldberg machine to put money in a piggy bank.

Casey Park Elementary School, PI: Shannon DelloStritto – $1,354

All STEAM Ahead
This project will provide a STEAM learning environment that allows students to explore, design, and imagine using science inquiry and project based learning.

Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School District, PI: Lee Meyers – $1,799.99

Sphero Supercharged Robotics
This project will introduce coding and foster creativity through discovery among K-6 grade students. Students will experiment with momentum as they learn about motion and forces as they use the robots to test the structural integrity of a bridge they create.

McConnellsville Elementary School, PI: Shelly DeLosh – $1,650

All Aboard The Coding Express
Students will learn to code with the Lego Coding Express. Through hands-on engaging play, students learn important concepts such as sequencing, looping, and conditions while developing problem-solving skills, critical thinking and collaboration.

Clinton Middle School, PI: Sarah Gaetano – $1,959.16

Creative Freedom Friday
Under this project students will have “Genius Hour,” a service project which allows students to work actively in the identification of problems within their community and aiming to solve them in a creative fashion. Through the projects, students will become life-long advocates and functional members of their community.

Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School, PI: Doug Borzynski – $4,991

Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School STEM Lab
Under this project Buffalo Academy of Science will use its state-of-the-art mobile STEM learning lab to excite and engage buffalo youth in job-ready STEM careers upon high school graduation. The mobile STEM learning lab will expose youth who are typically underrepresented in STEM to in-demand jobs, help them become job ready in today’s global economy, and contribute to the expansion of a skilled STEM workforce, both in Western New York and elsewhere.

Utica Academy of Science Charter School, PI: Genevieve Campanella – $1,895

Student Success Through Literacy and STEAM
The goal of this grant project is to promote lifelong learning by equipping classrooms with hands-on learning tools and enhancing engagement with parents and community members through interdisciplinary STEAM activities and events.

Syracuse Academy of Science High School, PI: Alexandra Carlson – $3,238

SAS Band Instruments
This grant supports the expansion of the band program, adding a bass clarinet and tenor saxophone which are integral part of a high school band and essential to providing students college-ready high school band experience.

Syracuse Academy of Science Middle School, PI: Jillian Knapp – $1,350

Middle School Science and Academic Fair
Under this project students will take part in science and academic fairs which will excite students about science and academics while also teaching them how to run controlled experiments and about the scientific method.

Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship, PI: Hayley Ireland – $4,245.69

Citizenship Makerspace/Junior STEM
The enrichment program closes the gap in STEM learning for low-income, ENL and minority students by providing an engaging environment that exposes students to STEM at a young age and facilitates collaboration and engagement through creativity.

North Side Learning Center, PI: Hussein Yerow – $5,000

Making Futures Bright: Exploring New Places
The North Side Learning Center will utilize these funds in conjunction with additional funding to purchase a 15-passenger van to bring students to the communities’ many resources such as museums, the zoo, parks and lakes, and colleges.

Paul V. Moore High School, PI: Fred Kowanes – $1,330.41

Trout in the Classroom
Under this project students will establish a system to raise trout eggs in the classroom for later release into the local environment. They will design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.

Bolivar Road Elementary School, PI: Melissa Biviano – $ 4,777.00

Math for all Learners
Students with special needs currently make up 18.6% of the school’s population; these students have limited standards-based math resources available to help incorporate their multi-sensory needs. This project will utilize TouchMath to allow students to explore mathematical content through the use of multiple manipulatives and visuals, ultimately leading to students having the opportunity to reach their maximum potential.

Syracuse Latin School, PI: Krista Hunter – $5,000.00

Makerspace at Syracuse Latin
The purpose of this project is to create a Makerspace, a collaborative workspace where students can create, design, experiment, and develop ideas. This workspace will provide students a place where they can use their knowledge to invent ways to solve real world or imaginary problems, experiment with coding, robotics, or use no-tech tools to bring their ideas to life.

Syracuse Academy of Science, PI: Dr. Ugur Kocak – $4,500.00

Robotics Program
Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School, through its robotics program, offers students opportunities to learn the necessary skills and knowledge in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math to empower them and prepare them for college, career, and citizenship.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School, PI: Kimberly VanDuren – $3,266.60

Full STEAM Ahead at MLK
The purpose of this project is to deepen computational thinking practices for students in grades 5-6 through inquiry and project-based learning.

Watson Williams School, PI: DeAnne Dow – $5,000.00

Agriculture in and Out of the Classroom
Under this project, Special Education Students will grow fruits, vegetables, trees, and herbs for their cooking lessons for a hands-on learning environment where a broad range of abilities can work together and learn science, math, art, and literature while also learning important skills such as working in a group and project planning.

Utica Academy of Science, PI: Mustafa Kovar – $4,955.15

UASCS Atoms Robotics Program
This project will implement the robotics programs FLL and FTC with curriculum that integrates technology and engineering concepts into a grade appropriate STEM program to help inspire and prepare a new generation of engineering and computer science professionals.

Frederick Leighton Elementary, PI: James Hartmann – $4,037.65

Science Inquiry and Application at the Elementary Level
This project is designed to deepen problem solving skills for students in Kindergarten through Sixth Grade through science labs, science experiments, and extra-curricular science explorations.

Gate-Chili High School, PI: Jared Starbird – $4,894.00

STEM Project PRIDE
This project is will use a laser engraver and logo design software to teach trades to English Language Learners and/or poverty-stricken students while also strengthening the student’s excitement and pride in the work they are creating. The ultimate objective of this project is to improve the graduation rate of ELL and poverty-stricken students.

Belfast Central School, PI: Joshua Hazelton – $5,000.00

Ready for Robotics
Within this project, Belfast Central will create STEM programming for students in grades 3-12 by expanding curriculum and extra-curricular activities for students using robotic technology to give them the opportunity to learn by doing!

Westminster Economic Development Initiative, Inc. (WEDI), PI: Benjamin Bissell – $5,000.00

WEDI English-Language Learner After School Capacity Building
The Project seeks to expand long-term capacity of the ENERGY and FLY afterschool programs through classroom technology and equipment to empower English-language learners to acquire comprehension and fluency to attain parity with native English-speaking peers.

CiTi BOCES, PI: William Jones – $4,963.91

Summer STEAM Enrichment Programs
The purpose of this project is to expand opportunities for ‘learning by doing’ in the field of robotics for students in grades 3-12 by lowering program costs to our districts so that they can further support learning outside of the K-12 school calendar as part of the Summer STEAM Enrichment Programs. CiTi BOCES will add new youth STEAM enrichment courses to existing summer offerings to provide Oswego County students new engaging STEAM and career related activities.

Suffolk County Marine Environment Learning Center at Cornell University, PI: Tracy Marcus – $2,872

SCMELC TouchTank Room & Classroom Experience Upgrade
The goal of this project is to reach as many Suffolk County residents as possible so that we may foster environmental stewardship in the youth of Long Island. Equipment will be purchased to upgrade the freshwater and saltwater aquarium tank room which houses all of their live program animals and to create a local shark tank for chained dogfish.

Frederick Leighton Elementary School, PI: James Hartman – $5,000

STEM Centers at the Intermediate Level
This project is designed to deepen problem solving skills for students in grades 4 through 6 through project based learning through conducting student selected projects and heterogeneous grouping in a variety of domains for thirty minutes each day.

Binghamton University, PI: Shannon Hilliker - $15,000

English Language Development Instruction in Elementary Grades
The project follows a design experiment methodology in order to take into account the complexity of the classroom, afford collaboration, and accommodate interpretations and adaptations of an instructional practice (Bradley & Reinking, 2010)

University at Buffalo, PI: Dr. Janina Brutt-Griffler – $14,773

Best Practices in the Dual Language Curricula: Young English Language Learners in Urban Schools
This study is an extension of the research project that began in fall 2015 and fas focused on identifying some of the best practices and variables that impact how schools address the academic achievement gap among English language learners on an urban school.

Terra Science will provide a grant support in the amount of $20,000 per academic year, on need basis, to SANY Charter Schools for the following recruitment costs; newspaper and radio advertisements, participation in job fairs, advertisements or postings on websites specific to employee recruitment, government agencies filing fees, and related expenses.

Cornell University, PI: Lora Hine – $15,000

The “E” in STEM: Making Engineering Evident in Elementary Schools
The Making Engineering Evident Program will provide a team of urban elementary educators with high quality professional growth and development experiences along with access to the resources and materials necessary to teach engineering design. Teachers will be provided with the opportunity to enhance content knowledge and skills necessary to successfully integrate science and engineering practices into their classrooms.

The project director, Lora Hine, manager of Xraise, is the education and public outreach program at the Cornell Laboratory for Accelerator-based Sciences and Education (CLASSE), a NSF-funded research facility at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Xraise will be working in collaboration with Dr. Susan Eschbach, principal of the Beverly J. Martin (BJM) Elementary School, and the second/third grade teacher teams at BJM Elementary School. Beverly J. Martin is located in Ithaca, NY and is part of the Ithaca City School District.