STEM skyrockets students ops

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nicole Sikorski
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  The Ramstein Youth Center was awarded the first ever Science, Technology, Engineering and Math grant to expand its educational resources for its students June 1.

The STEM grant, provided by Raytheon; helps to fund education programs and events outside of the classroom.

Depending on the progress of the youth center's funded programs, the STEM grant will provide up to $45,000 a year for five years.

RYC was invited by Boys and Girls Clubs of America to apply for the grant, which was awarded to only six youth centers across the globe.

The STEM grant will make a long-lasting impact on the lives of students at Ramstein, said Mona Hamilton, RYC programs director.

"Any opportunities that allow our youth to grow, learn, and to increase their resilience and success in life, is just something we can't pass up," she said. "It is especially important with (the way that) the world is growing and changing in technology."

In order to be eligible for the grant, youth centers must encourage character, citizenship, academic success and healthy lifestyles.

In addition to teaching the importance of resilience, Hamilton explained that RYC encompasses those key values into their programs and lessons for students which helped them to attain the grant.

"Questions on the application were designed to (recognize) the youth center that used these strategies to create a culture of innovation," said Hamilton.

The STEM grant will be used for curriculum supplies, field trips and events.  It will also reach beyond the walls of the youth center in support of the Department of Defense schools on Ramstein, base agencies and military units or contractors working in a STEM capacity.

According to Matthew Dilda, Ramstein youth programs assistant, the STEM grant will give students a chance prosper at a young age.

"Now that we have this grant, we will be able to provide the kids with more science camps and programs," Dilda said. "It is important to spark their interest at a young age for development of their education and for their future careers."

Funds will also be used for environmental redesign in the areas of both education and in the progress of structural projects within schools. Design team experts will work to revamp the educational environment with additions like computers, smart boards and small construction projects.