Battelle Gift to PAST Foundation will Send Kids to Camps and Boost Professional Development for STEM Educators

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A $275,000 grant from Battelle to the PAST Foundation will provide summer camps free of charge to high-needs students and will continue a Battelle Teaching Fellowship in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) to help teachers learn deeper strategies for teaching STEM.

The funding supports two of the primary PAST mission pillars: Expanding STEM literacy and competency of teachers and creating more opportunities for students to engage in STEM career exploration and exposure in a sustainable process of development and expansion. More than 400 students participate in the camps designed to prevent the “summer slide,” that can occur over summer break.

In the Battelle Fellows STEM Credential program, approximately 75 teachers are provided with materials, supplies and ongoing support during semester long implementation impacting an average of 6,000 Ohio students. The 25 teachers in the Battelle Fellows STEM Coaching Credential program will coach approximately 1,250 additional teachers eventually impacting up to 100,000 students.

“We’re happy to continue our support of these tremendously impactful programs,” said Wes Hall, Battelle’s Vice President for Philanthropy. “We felt it was even more crucial this year, given the pandemic challenges that disrupted student learning, to provide opportunities to strengthen STEM education.”

“The summer of 2021 is all about reengaging in a post-pandemic world. Reengaging students, educators, and community will ensure that our collaborative mission to ensure more STEM professionals in the future stays on track,” said Annalies Corbin, PAST Foundation’s President & CEO. “PAST Foundation’s mission to Link Learning to Life is made possible through the support and partnership of Battelle’s STEM endeavors.”

About Battelle

Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle makes the world better by commercializing technology, giving back to our communities, and supporting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. For more information, visit www.battelle.org.

About PAST Foundation

For 20 years, PAST, a non-profit organization, has been a leader in designing STEM education across the nation, bringing problem-based learning to educators and experiential programs to students. Recently, PAST’s Innovation Lab was named as a promising example to Re-imagine High School as featured in Forbes. PAST has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for its Excellence in Innovation in the STEM 2026 vision report. PAST was the only educational entity in Ohio to be included in this publication.

PAST was also recognized in 2014, by CGI America and former President Bill Clinton for their outstanding work, and again in 2015 for their achievements in improving STEM education in rural America. In 2015, the PAST Innovation Lab was recognized by the White House Summit on High School Design.

For more information on PAST Foundation and how you can link learning to life, visit our website or contact Lori Trent at [e-mail].