PHOTOS BY JENNIFER COLTON
By Jennifer Colton
The Umatilla School District will receive a 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant to bring science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs to students, officials announced Friday.
The grant is worth $2,051,552 over five years.
“I’m so excited,” District Superintendent Heidi Sipe said Friday. “It’s a dream come true.”
The extended-day STEM programs will serve students in K-12 at no charge to families.
The grant-funded programs include:
- FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) – Students can participate in all levels of Oregon FIRST programs: Elementary students, Junior Lego League or FIRST Lego League; middle school students, FIRST Lego League or FIRST Tech Challenge, and high school students can participate in FIRST Tech Challenge or FIRST Robotics Competition.
- Courses – Classes will be offered in science, math, mechanics, engineering, construction, fabrication, programming, horticulture, chemistry, drafting and computer aided design.
- Career Connections: Students will video-conference with real-world STEM professionals through partnerships with Autodesk, Google and Intel to learn how the work they’re completing in their afterschool courses relates to jobs in STEM fields. Middle and high school students will take a trip to the Intel campus and learn about the jobs available in STEM fields.
- Adult education – Courses will be offered for parents of enrolled Umatilla School District students including GED, language and parenting courses. Through a partnership with Blue Mountain Community College, parents and interested high school students will also be able to complete an education/paraeducation certificate.
“We have dreamed of a project of this magnitude for a number of years,” Sipe said. “To have the funds to offer students in Umatilla a safe environment afterschool, expose students to STEM careers at early ages and build job-ready skills in the high-school years is truly an amazing gift.”
The 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant program uses federal funds distributed by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Twenty-two projects were awarded in Oregon this session, and Umatilla’s award was made possible with partnerships from Autodesk, BMCC, Google, Intel, Intermountain ESD and Oregon FIRST.
This is the second time Umatilla has received a 21st CCLC grant – The district received $200,000 in 2005 to start the McNary Elementary After-School Program.
The McNary After-School program already integrates STEM programs into many of its classes, such as LEGO robotics and computer science.
Umatilla has also promoted STEM programs across the board. In recent years, the district has launched programs in automotive technology, sent a teacher to a NASA educators program and competing in the international FIRST Robotics Competition finals.
