A powerful resource is headed to more than a dozen teachers, schools and robotics teams in Michigan’s Great Southwest in the form of grants from Indiana Michigan Power today.
The utility, an operating company of American Electric Power, has presented grants totaling nearly $40,000 from AEP to 27 teachers and schools – including 15 in Michigan – to promote education and improve student achievement.
Teachers and schools receiving the grants are in the I&M service area or in communities with major I&M facilities.
Maggie Beggs is Community Affairs Manager for I&M. She says, “These grants are designed to reward the talents and creativity of Pre-K through grade 12 educators devoted to motivating youth to think creatively, to step into leadership roles and to address the challenges of the future.”
Two types of grants were awarded.
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics grants are for teams of students who build robots to compete in local, regional and international events. Those grants range from $250 to $6,000, depending on the robotics program level.
Teacher Vision grants of $100 to $500 are for projects that have an academic focus and a goal to improve student achievement. I&M and AEP have a special interest in science, mathematics, technology, electrical safety and the balanced study of energy and the environment.
FIRST Robotics grants went to:
- S.M.A.R.T. Team, Niles
- Buchanan Community Schools Megahurtz Robotics Team
- St. Joseph High School, Average Joes Team
- Berrien Springs High School, GreengineerZ Team
- Berrien Springs Middle School, Rock MonsterZ Team
- Three Rivers High School, Robocats team
- Lakeshore High School, Stevensville, Team Lance-A-Bot
- Lakeshore Middle School, Stevensville, Lanceanators Team
- Roosevelt Elementary School, Stevensville, Team Lego Lancers
- Stewart Elementary School, Stevensville, Team Lance-A-Bot and Team Lance-A-Naut
- Hollywood Elementary School, Stevensville, Hexagon Squad
- Niles High School, Niles Nordic Knights Team
Teacher Vision grants went to:
- Cara Rumer, Mars Middle School, Cassopolis, for equipment in special education classroom
- Patrick Bertrand, River Valley Schools, Three Oaks, for students to participate in Science Olympiad
- Lauren Mott, FC Reed Middle School, Bridgman, for two treadmills to help students exercise or train for competition
You can learn more about the educational grant programs at www.aep.com/community/education
Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne, and its 2,450 employees serve more than 593,900 customers. More than half of its generation is emission-free, including 2,278 MW of nuclear generation in Michigan, 450 MW of purchased wind generation from Indiana, 22 MW of hydro generation in both states and approximately 15 MW of large-scale solar generation in both states. The company’s generation portfolio also includes 2,600 MW of coal-fueled generation in Indiana.
