STEM Educators Grant to Provide up to $8,500 in Total Funding to St. Charles County Teachers
The Economic Development Council (EDC) of St. Charles County is pleased to announce that the application window for the 2022 Randy Schilling STEM Educators Grant is officially open.
Named after local IT entrepreneur and STEM champion Randy Schilling, this program will award 10 St. Charles County K-12 teachers up to $850 each for STEM-related classroom materials for the 2022-23 academic year. Community organizations with STEM programming (Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA, etc.) are also eligible to apply.
Winners will be selected by a sub-committee of the EDC’s STEM Education Committee, which is comprised of representatives from local public and private schools, as well as local business and civic leaders. Successful applications will request funding for innovative STEM activities that can be easily incorporated into a classroom setting. Completed applications are due by noon on Friday, April 16.
In 2021, the grant awarded over $7,300 in STEM classroom grants to nine local teachers. Funded materials and projects included a 3D printer, coding software, electrophoresis chambers, ph sensors, a classroom LEGO wall, and more.
2021 Winner
Deb Ruscillo, a Biomedical Science Instructor at St. Dominic High School, used her STEM grant funding to purchase EDGE electrophoresis machines for the study of DNA samples.
2021 Winner
Abby Leeper, a teacher at Jefferson Intermediate School in the City of St. Charles School District, used her funding to build a classroom LEGO wall.
"I’m delighted to support our outstanding students and teachers with their efforts to excel in STEM education in St. Charles County,” said Randy Schilling, the program's namesake.
As the first Chair of the EDC's Education Committee, Randy has played a key role in the EDC's STEM initiatives throughout the years, including the creation of local robotics teams and the launch of STEM summer camps.
"The EDC is always looking for creative ways to create a robust pipeline of STEM talent in St. Charles County," said EDC President & CEO Scott J. Drachnik. "By giving funds directly to teachers, we can amplify the number of students impacted."
This program is made possible from funding provided by the EDC, matching funds from Randy Schilling and Partners for Community Progress, and an additional donation from Jim and Randie Eberlin. Other organizations or individuals interested in sponsoring STEM classroom initiatives in partnership with the EDC should reach out to Amanda Schaub via the contact details provided below.
Program Contact
Amanda Schaub
aschaub@edcscc.com
(636) 229-5286
