Fort Lauderdale, FL – The Museum of Discovery and Science has received a $200,000 challenge grant from The Salah Foundation in support of the Museum’s STEM Center for Education and Career Development. In recognition for their generous funding, the Museum has named the STEM Center in honor of The Salah Foundation. The programs of the STEM Center are diverse and advance public engagement in science, technology, engineering, and math.
“We are pleased to provide the catalyst to generate the necessary funding and build public awareness for the Museum’s STEM Center programs. The Salah Foundation is committed to building a stronger community by elevating the level of science, technology, engineering, and math education,” said Salah Foundation board member George J. Taylor.
Museum President and CEO, Joseph P. Cox, said, “We are grateful to have the Salah Foundation continue to support our STEM Center initiative with such a generous gift. The challenge propelled our fundraising efforts to support programs that advance knowledge of and engagement in science, technology, engineering, and math and gave us a platform to showcase the impact of our STEM Center programs.”
The Salah Foundation’s grant of $200,000 is designated for the STEM Center programs to help support existing initiatives and create additional STEM education programs. The Salah Foundation matched gifts ranging from $1,000 to $75,000 from donors, bringing the total of funds for the STEM Center to more than $500,000.
Founded in 2014 and staffed by certified STEM educators, the STEM Center for Education and Career Development goals are to prepare students for success by raising the level of STEM education, instruction and career interest, and to create a science-literate community by increasing awareness of and engagement in STEM.
To accomplish these goals, the STEM Center offers a number of specialized opportunities to advance knowledge and engagement in science, technology, engineering and math:
- Curriculum-based programs that advance understanding of STEM through real world applications
- Internships, mentorships, partnerships and other opportunities for youth to explore STEM careers
- STEM educator training to enhance the classroom experience
- Opportunities for STEM engagement including volunteerism, public forums and citizen action
- Collaboration with universities, schools and educational associations
STEM Center program highlights include:
App-titude
This exciting two-year internship exposes high school students to careers in computer science and engineering while being introduced to coding. Students receive volunteer service hours, college credit, and a stipend while advancing knowledge in STEM education and complete a course at Florida Atlantic University to develop smartphone apps to enhance the Museum’s visitor experience. This program is supported by United Way of Broward County.
Discovering Success: An Initiative to Increase High School Graduation through STEM
The Museum has partnered with New Renaissance Middle School and Attucks Middle School to develop an extended learning experience for ‘bubble’ students defined as those with low level 3/high level 2 FCAT scores in reading and math, in tandem with reported behavioral concerns. The initiative serves these students through a personalized environment and also incorporates their parents/families through workshops and significant child/family incentives. This program is supported by The Charles and Ruth Taylor Fund, the Francis J. Crowley Fund, the Jan Moran Unrestricted Fund, the Mary N. Porter Community Impact Fund, the Sun Sentinel Literacy Fund, the Helen A. Chadwick Fund, the Maxine Powers Hofert Fund, the Fred and Mary Ruffner Fund, and the Mary and Alex Mackenzie Community Impact Fund through the Community Foundation of Broward.
Transition to Independent Living (TIL)
The TIL program is a paid internship/mentorship for young adults aging out of foster care. TIL provides young adults an opportunity to develop basic job skills, discover career aptitudes, and become exposed to different career paths. The Museum partners with HANDY, Flite Center and ChildNet to identify at-risk youth for the program. Program support is provided by The Jim Moran Foundation and The Jones Family Foundation.
Star Lab
The Star Lab portable planetarium allows students to journey through the night sky with eight exciting shows that revolve around the universe. The Star Lab allows staff to provide on-site and off-site opportunities for children and adults to learn about space. This program is funded by The John H. Rau Space Education Fund at the Community Foundation of Broward.
Sprouting STEM
For the second year, the Museum will conduct Sprouting STEM Exhibit Training, a unique continuing education opportunity focused in exhibit design for 80 Broward County school teachers. This program is generously supported by the School Board of Broward County.
Aviation Academy
The three-week internship program through a partnership with JetBlue, Goodyear and Sikorski, was specifically created to provide high school students the opportunity to gain exposure to aviation related subject matters such as the forces of flight, careers in the industry, and new technologies and research in a “behind the scenes” approach unlike any other. This program reinforces the importance of aviation and gives participants possible career paths after high school by allowing them behind the scenes access to places typically restricted only to industry staff and not accessible to the general public. This program is supported by JetBlue.
