Over the last 11 years, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions has donated $700,000 to enhance local education through the annual SRNS Innovative Teaching Mini Grants program.

More than 100 educators from the greater Aiken-Augusta area were recently honored and given grants ranging from $500 to $1,000.

Amber Bryan, a science teacher at Merriwether Middle School in North Augusta, was awarded a $1,000 Mini Grant. “This program gives us the opportunity to fund our ideas. Teachers get ideas for exciting and creative lessons but sometimes we don’t have the materials or funds to implement them. This program gives us that opportunity. It gives us a chance to give our students experiences that they might not have access to otherwise,” she said.

The program recognizes and supports projects that enhance elementary and middle school science, mathematics and technology programs and is expected to directly impact more than 12,000 students over the next school year.

Typically, the grants are used to purchase project materials and hands-on kits and computer programs such as: “Using Maps and Robots to Explore Animal Shelters”; “Marvelous Math Stations”; “3D Printing, Out of the Box Thinking”; and “Kindergarten Computer Coding and Connections.”

“This grant is going to provide my students with the equipment they need to conduct quality scientific investigations,” Bryan said. “In order for students to learn science, they must learn how to do science. The purchased sensors will allow them to design and conduct their own scientific investigations in ways we have not been able to do before.”

Educators from all Central Savannah River Area elementary and middle schools (public and private) are eligible to apply for the $50,000 in Mini Grants offered each year. This year, nearly 200 grant proposals were submitted, with 80 being selected.

Funding for the grants is provided through the parent companies of SRNS (Fluor, Newport News Nuclear and Honeywell).

“Rewarding these teachers who work so hard for our children is important,” said Gladys Moore, SRNS Education Outreach. “Their enthusiasm and heartfelt expressions of appreciation make this event special for us as well.”

Bryan explained that she believes SRNS has been instrumental towards optimizing the effectiveness of her teaching over the last few years. “From the mini grant program to the Future City competition, I have been able to give my students high quality STEM education. Not only does SRNS give us resources, but they also do an amazing job of showing their appreciation of educators. I am grateful to live and work in an area where we have a company that respects and appreciates their teachers.”

The primary goal of the extensive SRNS education outreach program is to enhance interest in science, mathematics, engineering and technology while supporting improvements in education by using the unique resources available at SRS. The SRNS management team believes business, industry, government and the academic community should work together as partners to improve educational opportunities for all students in our region.