Colocation America Announces 2017 STEM Innovation Grant Recipients

Colocation America, an industry leader in data center services, announced today that it has awarded funding to seven STEM programs across the United States through its STEM Innovation Grant. Designed to encourage and inspire youth to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), Colocation America’s STEM Innovation Grant awards funding to programs that provide unique hands-on learning opportunities to youth in their communities.
This funding cycle, the second in the history of the grant, highlights the diversity and strength of STEM programming in the U.S. “We were overwhelmed with the amount of interest we had for this funding cycle. There are so many amazing STEM educators looking to make a difference and inspire tomorrow’s scientists, engineers, and mathematicians,” said Samantha Walters, Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Corporate Social Responsibility Lead.
The Grant Reading Committee, a group of individuals with a vast knowledge of nonprofits, for-profits, and STEM education, chose the recipients based on a number of criteria including program goals and objectives, and STEM innovation.
“There is no question that this was a tough decision. All these organizations are playing a vital role in developing the next generation of innovators—something I know we will continue to support for many more years to come,” commented Albert Ahdoot, Business Development Director.

The 2017 Colocation America STEM Innovation Grant Recipients: Bay Area Discovery Museum The Bay Area Discovery Museum (BADM), a nationally recognized leader in early childhood education, has been a valued educational destination for children ages 0-10, parents, and educators for over 25 years. BADM’s vision is that all children will have early learning experiences that inspire creative problem solving. Colocation America is providing funding to support BADM’s mobile engineering lab, the “Try It Truck”, which will bring engineering education to nearly 10,000 youth ages 4-10, parents, and educators at schools and local libraries sites across the San Francisco Bay Area during the 2017-2018 school year.

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Boys & Girls Club of Santa Monica The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Monica was established in 1944 and serves 4,000 youth, many of whom come from the Santa Monica - Malibu School District. The mission of the organization is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Colocation America is providing funding to help establish a comprehensive STEM program at various sites. The program will encompass activities in a number of STEM-related fields such as coding, robotics, and game design.

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Fender® Museum of the Arts Foundation Fender® Museum of the Arts Foundation was started in 1998 as a museum honoring Leo Fender’s engineering and guitar company accomplishments. Since then, the organization has grown to offer music education to 1,400 youth annually in the Greater Los Angeles area. Colocation America is providing funding to pilot a sound engineering program to high school students. The program curriculum will be created and implemented by seasoned professionals with the students showing off their skills at the organization’s Paws for the Arts event in the fall.

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The LEAH Project The Leaders through Education, Action, and Hope (LEAH) Project, was established in 2005 through the Boston Public Schools (BPS) Department of Extended Learning Time, Afterschool, and Services. In 2013, the LEAH Project found a new home at Health Resources in Action, Inc. (HRiA) where it currently serves thousands of youth with STEM programming. Colocation America is providing funding to help the LEAH Project pursue a strategic growth plan to expand to five partner sites, reaching 1,500 elementary students and 50 high school student mentors.

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Science from Scientists Science from Scientists (SfS) was founded in 2002 by Dr. Erika Ebbel Angle, an MIT graduate who wanted to offer science opportunities to students. Since then, SfS has worked with over 30,000 students in numerous cities offering an In-School Module-Based STEM enrichment program which brings scientists to the classroom. Colocation America is providing funding to help SfS bring their hands-on curricula to a school in Boston’s Charlestown neighborhood.

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South Miami Middle Community School South Miami Middle Community School is a public Magnet School of the Arts in Miami-Dade County Public School District. The school strives to guide students to be lifelong learners and operates on the fundamental principles of truth, honesty, integrity, and community. Colocation America is providing funding for the Dance and Broadcast program to use Motion Capture Sensors; the students will be using the sensors to study the science of movement and translate it into real world applications as it relates to their program.

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Treasure Island Sailing Center Treasure Island Sailing Center (TISC) launched in 1999 with a dual vision of creating more socio-economic diversity in sailing and of using sailing to impact disadvantaged youth. TISC serves over 2,200 Bay Area youth annually through various sailing programs include TISC’s Set Sail Learn (SSL) program. Colocation America is providing funding--for the second time--to support the SSL program which makes science directly relevant to 4^th and 5^th graders in a way that is accessible, engaging and fun.

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Thank you to all those who submitted, congratulations to the recipients, and we look forward to continuing our support of your amazing STEM education programs.