FSW Collegiate High School-Lee Awarded Grant to Advance STEM Education
Jun 26, 2017
JUNE 26, 2017 – FORT MYERS, FLA. – The Florida SouthWestern State College Collegiate High School-Lee, (FSWC-Lee) was recently awarded a $27,500 grant from the Schulze Family Foundation. The grant funds will be used to advance project-based learning opportunities in STEM education for ninth- and 10th-grade FSWC-Lee students.
“The grant will allow us to immerse our ninth- and 10th-grade students deeper into programming and related technical STEM disciplines,” said Dr. Brian Botts, FSWC-Lee principal. “By purchasing the necessary hardware components, students will be able to actively participate in all phases of the design, physical construction and programming of various electronic systems. By considering the physical and structural elements and being responsible for the necessary coding, wiring and other automation components, students will be active participants in all segments of design and production process. To complement these student driven projects, field trips to visit industry partners in related fields should increase the percentage of students interested in pursuing computer science and engineering related majors and careers.”
Annually, over 200 students will work in small teams toward the creation and programming of robots, drones, and fully functional personal computers while using student designed and fabricated 3D printed and laser cut components. All purchased components are reusable with a projected useful life of four to six years.
About the Schulze Family Foundation: The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation began its work in 2004 with the charge from its founder to support transformational change for the benefit of mankind. The Foundation has consistently directed its primary efforts and resources toward matters of importance in human & social services, education, and health & medicine. It continues to do so today with a focus on investments that produce specific and measurable outcomes with a geographic emphasis on the Twin Cities (Minnesota) seven-county metropolitan area and Lee and Collier counties in Florida. In all of its activities, the foundation embraces its founder’s beliefs in the value of innovation and in improving the lives of middle- and working-class families.
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FSWC-Lee provides a dynamic STEM focused learning environment that is dedicated to creating and sustaining the independent learning process with a focus on helping students construct knowledge through projects, hands on activities, and academic debate/discussion. An integral part of the school’s mission is to connect qualified and motivated students to maximizing their college dual enrollment options. For more information about Florida SouthWestern Collegiate High School Lee County, visit http://www.fsw.edu/wp/lchs/. Students enjoy small class sizes and individualized attention as FSWC since the school has a maximum of 436 students in grades 9 through 12.
Last Updated: May 26, 2020
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