Grant Awarded: EnergyPartners Fund

As part of their Community Design Project, the six members of the Advanced Engineering I class worked jointly on a grant request to a local organization, the EnergyPartners Fund. This grant, totaling $1,500, was aimed at purchasing the necessary raw materials and tools for actually building the planned play structure.

Just to be clear, it was Jake, Caleb, Tys, Aaron, Sarah Jane, and Kylie who were tasked with writing this grant—no teachers involved! Three teams of two drafted three separate grant requests, and then Mr Meadth took the best answers for each question and collated them into one official proposal.

We won't leave you in suspense... the grant request was accepted by the EnergyPartners Fund in full! Tys volunteered to travel up to Santa Maria with Mr and Mrs Meadth, and accept the award in person at the stylish Presqu'ile Winery.

Mr Meadth and Tys in front of the EnergyPartners Fund sponsor sign

The simple ceremony showcased a variety of STEM education projects happening around Santa Barbara county. Students from local schools are working on VEX robots just as we are, and the nearly-open downtown MOXI museum received funds for professional-grade 3D printers (this museum will be a possible service opportunity for our own students). We also met with a representative of the Maritime Museum, and learned about their interesting historical education programs. And if you haven't heard of Riviera Robotics, the local robotics team run entirely by students, you should check them out; two of their members were present to receive their award.

All in all, lots of great connections, and we are very grateful to the many sponsors of the EnergyPartners Fund for promoting the work we are doing! Thanks once again to the talented students who represented Providence in such a convincing way.