ISD STEM Students Win $15,000 from Ford NGL
Van Horn High School’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Academy won the $10,000 top prize and William Chrisman’s STEM Academy won $5,000 in the Ford STEM Community Challenge grant contest. Students from across the country submitted proposals and Van Horn and William Chrisman’s projects were chosen as two of 10 finalists. Van Horn’s plan is to refurbish computers and donate them to needy families in the area. It is part of the school’s Community Assistance through the Service of Technology (CAST) program.
“Words cannot express how proud I am of my students for giving back to their community while learning a valuable trade,” said Scott McQuerry, Van Horn computer science teacher and Project Lead The Way (PLTW) advisor. “I have no doubt the CAST program will help a lot of families in the years to come.”
William Chrisman’s proposal is How Tumbling Can Keep You Healthy, Without Moving a Muscle. It calls for developing solar powered compost tumblers for the Independence Community Gardens.
“I am so proud of the kids,” said David Hawley, Chrisman bio-med teacher and PLTW advisor. “They looked for something practical to benefit the community, something we could implement here.” Hawley also thanked community leaders who worked with the students to turn an idea into reality. “Everything about the project, from initial concept to the final proposal submitted to Ford, ran smoothly,” he said.
Ford’s Blue Oval Network awarded two $10,000 and six $5,000 grants nationwide to fund innovative, student-led projects addressing the theme of Building Sustainable Communities.
You can learn more about the projects by following these links…