PPL Foundation Awards $10K Grant to Thaddeus Stevens

    11.26.18 | TSCT News

    Lancaster, PA—A Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology initiative which aims to boost STEM learning in K-12 schools received a $10,000 grant from the PPL Foundation.

     STEM-in-Gear is a mobile lab that brings STEM-related activities to K-12 schools throughout Lancaster County and the surrounding region. Workshops range from engineering and robotics to manufacturing and aviation and can be as short as an hour or up to two days long. Custom workshops can also be created and linked to state standards. The program also provides curriculum and educator training.

    Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology STEM TruckThaddeus Stevens College of Technology STEM Truck 

     “Many schools in our area do not have adequate equipment, funding or time to integrate hands-on STEM activities into their classrooms,” said Thaddeus Stevens STEM coordinator Sean McKnight. “Working with college professors and technical instructors, we write the curriculum and lesson plans so that teachers with little experience with STEM programs can feel comfortable delivering the content and activities.”

     Research suggests that STEM related activities enhance classroom learning and give students a realistic look at the regional job market, McKnight said. Nationally, there are some 6 million skilled jobs unfilled due, in part, to a misalignment between job seekers’ skills and employer needs. 

    “The challenges we face in our communities are complex and there is no easy solution. The goal of the PPL Foundation is to bring together people, ideas and resources to tackle some of these challenges collectively,” said Lissette Santana, chief operating officer of the PPL Foundation. “We’re proud to be able to support nonprofit organizations working to address the issues most relevant in our community.” 

    The PPL Foundation awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process.

     About Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology

    Consistently ranked as Pennsylvania’s best technical college, Thaddeus Stevens awards associate degrees in 22 high-demand, skilled occupations. A full listing of programs is available at www.StevensCollege.edu.

     About the PPL Foundation

    Through strategic partnerships, the PPL Foundation will support organizations that are working to create vibrant, sustainable communities and empowering each citizen to fulfill his or her potential. The PPL Foundation contributes more than $2 million annually to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.PPLCares.com.

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