FirstEnergy Awards Science Education Grants To 21 Teachers In PA Service Areas

FirstEnergy Tuesday announced the award of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) grants to 21 teachers in its Penelec, Met-Ed and West Penn Power service areas in Pennsylvania.  The grants will be used for a variety of hands-on projects, workshops and teacher development programs throughout the school year.

Grant winners, their schools and projects are:

Penelec Service Area—

-- Andrew Burt, Mercyhurst Preparatory School, Erie – Producing electricity from water draining through downspouts;

-- Alexandra Cooper, North Penn-Liberty Jr./Sr. High School, Liberty – Examining water quality and energy production;

-- Cathleen Alexander, Liberty Elementary School, Liberty – Build and test windmill blade designs;

-- Julie Weaver, Miller Elementary School, Mansfield – Design and build an outdoor energy learning space; and

-- Elyse Uhlig, Ferndale Area Elementary School, Johnstown – Learning about probability and managing time and money.

West Penn Power Service Area—

-- Brett Bielewicz, Heritage Elementary School, Murrysville – Design and build a school garden;

-- Paula Giran, Hillcrest Intermediate School, North Huntingdon – Learn about solar power and build and use a solar oven;

-- Sue Mellon, Cathy Restauri, Rebecca Bachman, Colfax Elementary School, Springdale – Learning finch robot programming language;

-- Jenn Landsberg, Franklin Regional Middle School, Murrysville – Hummingbird robot building to learn engineering and robotics;

-- Sharon Baillie, Burgettstown Middle/High School, Burgettstown – Using food preparation, safety and storage to learn math and science concepts;

-- Lenni Nedley and Joshua Nicklow, Ringgold Middle School, Finleyville – Exploration of circuits and switches to build a game box;

-- Nick Arico, Charleroi Area High School, Charleroi – Building a working drone; and

-- Brandon Botzer, Trinity Area High School, Washington – Design and build a rocket that will ascend 250 meters.

Met-Ed Service Area—

-- Ben Seibert, Dallastown Area Intermediate School, York – K'Nex® energy-producing inventions;

-- Sid Harwood, Daniel Boone Senior High School, Birdsboro – Biogas digester to heat the school's greenhouse;

-- Shannon W. Helzer, Daniel Boone Senior High School, Birdsboro – An exploration of hydroponic gardening;

-- Joshua Potts, Hawk Mountain Council Boy Scouts of America, Reading – A STEM Academy allowing Scouts to explore numerous activities related to science, technology, engineering and math; and

-- Joseph Stemrich, Career Institute of Technology, Easton – Wire and install energy efficient lighting fixtures and calculate savings.

"FirstEnergy has long supported educational activities in our communities, particularly those that encourage students to pursue careers in the critical fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics," said Scott Wyman, regional president of Penelec.  "We are pleased to provide assistance to several STEM projects this year that support our students, schools and educators as they work to help build a strong workforce for the future."

FirstEnergy offers grants up to $500 to individual teachers and administrators at schools served by its electric utility operating companies and in communities where it has facilities. Grant recipients are recommended by local educators who make up FirstEnergy's Educational Advisory Council.  

As part of the program, recipients must furnish a written summary and evaluation of their projects that can be shared with other educators in FirstEnergy's service area.