NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Newport News Public Schools (NNPS) received a $2 million grant from the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) for STEM learning opportunities.
The five-year grant is part of the Mission STEM: Pioneering Pathways in Robotics and Space Exploration initiative. The funds will go towards STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning opportunities for students in grades K-12 at 12 of the division's schools.
"We are honored and grateful to receive this significant grant from the DoDEA," said NNPS Superintendent Dr. Michele Mitchell. "It will allow us to build on our strong STEM offerings for students and provide them with additional opportunities to explore the many ways to apply those skills."
NNPS said the funding will increase STEM education through after-school robotics programs and space camps, including an overnight summer space camp for high school students at Wallops Island.
Students will get to work with STEM professionals and explore autonomous systems and artificial intelligence career path options. In addition, teachers will receive professional development to coach robotics teams and lead STEM activities.
"The grant will engage our students in cutting-edge land, air and sea robotics as they advance coding skills to develop autonomous systems," said Tami Byron, NNPS STEM instructional supervisor. "We are thrilled to partner with the Virginia Space Flight Academy to bring new STEM programs aligned to space missions for NNPS students."
Through Mission STEM, NASA awards about $1.5 billion in grants for research and development each year. The recipients include university and college STEM programs, science centers, museums, planetariums, scientific research institutes, corporations, and consortiums.
