AASL STEM Special Event Grants Awarded

CHICAGO – Five STEM Special Event Grants have been awarded by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL). Supported by the Danaher Foundation, the STEM Special Event Grant Program supports a special event to increase student engagement by providing direct assistance funding to middle or high school libraries for special short-term projects or events that would engage students to promote STEM education and student interest in a career in the STEM field. Each recipient will receive a $3,000 grant to fund their project or event.

Recipients of second-round AASL STEM Special Event Grants are:

• Cooper Dual Language Academy, teacher-librarian, Brenda Garcia
• Melrose High School (MA), librarian and media specialist, Christy Walker Magoon
• Prairie Grove Junior High School (AR), media specialist, Blake Baker
• Snow Hill Middle School (MD), library media specialist, Beau Brooks Williams
• Spring Hill High School (SC), librarian, Margaret Adams, and digital integration specialist, Meghan Blackburn

The latest round of STEM Special Event Grant recipients include STEM makerspaces, one in collaboration with a local public library for a Creative Commons Makerspace; the “STEM For All” event and “Expanding Horizons through STEAM Day” that will allow students to connect with community members and experts; and “E-Week- Discover, Explore, Succeed” that will give students access to essential STEM tools and culminate in a field trip to a local university.

"We want to thank the Danaher Foundation for their generous support of this grant program and school libraries,” said AASL President Courtney Pentland. "I am absolutely inspired by the innovative work my school librarian colleagues are doing to engage their learners, connect them to valuable resources, and build community. Congratulations to all of the recipients!"

Grant recipients will provide additional information through a variety of communication and professional development paths to share their events or projects for the field to replicate. 

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.

The Danaher Foundation, an independent charitable organization funded by Danaher, invests in partnerships that share a desire to make a positive impact in the world by Building a Diverse, STEM-ready Workforce, Advancing Healthcare Innovation and Protecting the Environment.