Battelle Grants Support STEM Students of All Ages

Battelle's philanthropic efforts typically focus on education in the communities where our employees live and work.

The bulk of our charitable contributions are allocated in Central Ohio, where our headquarters are located. But communities across the country also receive some of our philanthropic dollars. 

We recently awarded $650,000 to fund 43 programs in 10 regional communities. 

By advancing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education for students at each stage of their development, these charitable contributions create avenues for future career opportunities and improve the quality of life in the communities Battelle calls home.
 
Engaging students and developing an interest in STEM topics begins at a young age. The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts trains teachers to integrate drama, puppetry, music and dance to improve learning in other subject areas. Building on previous funding for residencies in early childhood classrooms, Battelle has provided the organization with $25,000 to expand their programming to first grade in Fairfax County Public Schools and Arlington Public Schools near Washington, D.C. The grant will allow nine teachers to work side by side with teaching artists to implement arts-integrated learning in their curriculum.
 
“Many in education believe that STEM is taught in siloes.” said Regina Schofield, Director of Corporate Engagement and Educational Outreach. “At Battelle, we believe that STEM is best when integrated with all subjects and approached as hands-on engagement. Performing artists at Wolf Trap work with their teachers to incorporate STEM lessons in the arts. For many years, this program has operated at the kindergarten level, and we’re very excited about helping Wolf Trap scale this project into first grade.”
 
As students advance in their education, they need guidance to see how their initial interest in science can become a career. The Norwell office has a long-standing relationship with the South Shore YMCA’s Germantown Neighborhood Center. The organization’s Teen Success program focuses on college readiness and job preparedness in this low-income community. This year, Battelle provided $15,000 to support the establishment of a STEM career track within the program, which will provide 18 workshops focused on different facets of STEM careers.
 
“As a regional office we have worked to support STEM programs in Massachusetts, which has included a growing connection with the South Shore YMCA,” said Tracy Stenner, Manager of Environmental Assessment. “Our local employees support many programs at the Germantown Neighbor Center. This year, thanks in part to Battelle’s donation, a fourth track that is focused on STEM will be added to the Teen Success program.”
 
After an individual has selected to pursue higher education in a specific career field, they need access to the right tools and training to make the transition into the workforce. Battelle has provided $25,000 to Bluegrass Community and Technical College to purchase a spectrometer and accompanying accessories for the new Science Education Center on their Newtown Campus in Lexington, Kentucky. This is a key piece of equipment in their new organic chemistry lab and will help prepare students for jobs as biotechnology technicians or bachelor’s degree programs.
 
“Bluegrass Community and Technical College has 14,000 diverse students studying there each year,” said Mark Needham, Site Manager at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP). “They are close enough to BGCAPP that Battelle can recruit from their graduates. We are pleased to see them focusing on STEM skills. The new Science Education Center will be a great asset for them well into the future.”