KAILUA-KONA — The Hawaii Community Foundation STEM Learning Partnership announced Tuesday it will spread $725,000 across 23 grant recipients on Hawaii Island, reaching more than 300 teachers and 7,000 students.
The partnership was launched in 2015 with funding from The Hawaii Island New Knowledge Fund, or THINK Fund, at HCF, which was established by the Thirty Meter Telescope. The partnership considers immersion in STEM — science, technology, engineering, arts and math — the most of crucial pre-workforce experiences for students soon to enter an economy constantly modified by jumps in technology.
According to the press release, nine funders currently support the partnership including the Maunakea Fund at HCF, which was established by the Maunakea Observatories.
“It is our privilege to partner with these funders who are pooling their resources around their common desire to support schools and nonprofits that are developing new approaches to teaching and learning to further STEM education,” said Lydia Clements, HCF director of neighbor islands. “The goals of the STEM Learning Partnership builds on HCF’s knowledge and experience supporting systemic change in education so that our youth will succeed in the 21st century workforce.”
Programs receiving support include workshops for educators, field-based discovery experiences for youth and observatory internships.
A Kealakehe High School program and two Honokaa Complex programs are among those located in traditional education settings to procure funding. But others in nontraditional educational settings, such as the Summer STEM for Life program at the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Island and a STEM Program offered by the Girls Scouts of Hawaii, are also part of the list.