SAGINAW, MI— Students in Saginaw County will soon learn software coding and building and operating drones after a science, technology, engineering and math program won a community grant worth thousands.
Community members gathered at the Horizons Conference Center, 6200 State Street, in Saginaw, Township on Monday, June 12, for the Saginaw Community Foundation’s annual celebration, honoring hard work by educators, students and programs that have helped better the region’s educational landscape.
The top award, a $25,000 Community Improvement Initiative grant, was presented to one of five finalist groups or organizations that have worked to better inform and educate students and residents around the Great Lakes Bay Region.
Saginaw STEM, led by engineer Dante Davis, was recognized for its STEM Saturday educational series. Davis also is the founder and executive director of Saginaw Stem.
Davis said the series of events focused on providing STEM-related seminars for students looking to drive them into the field and, hopefully, a related career.
“The kids are the program, the kids and the parents sacrificing and participating,” Davis said. “Without them, there are no events. I’m really, really happy the community accepted the program. That’s why we created it- to prepare kids for this STEM world. It’s part of their lives, with all the technology around them now, whether they like it or not.”
The most recent STEM Saturday focused on turbines, renewable energy and battery storage. There, students built model turbines from kits provided by Saginaw STEM that followed a simple circuit to power an LED lightbulb display.
Alexis Thomas, board chair for Saginaw STEM, said the organization could not do what it needs to do without the community’s support.
“Receiving the Community Initiative Award from the Saginaw Community Foundation was not only humbling, but also confirming,” Thomas said. “This award allows us to continue engaging, exposing and inspiring the youths in our community about STEM and all the amazing career opportunities within their reach, right here in Saginaw and the Great Lakes Bay Region.”
An additional $5,000 can be added to the grant total if the initial grant is matched before the end of the year by the recipient organization, Konieczka said.
Davis added that the funds will be going towards expanding the program, increasing the number of events per year and allowing for more robust events to teach children areas they may not be able to learn until much further along in their educational careers.
“We’re planning on hosting larger activities. We haven’t had anything to do with programming, coding, or drones,” Davis said.
Outside of coding and drone work, Davis said one program he’s excited to work with the new funding is focused on rockets, teaching about propulsion and thrust.
“I’m just really humbled and thankful blessed by the community and community foundation, as well as the other groups,” Davis said. “I knew I could help a few, but because of them, we’ve impacted thousands of young lives around the area. They’re doing wonderful things.”
This year’s other nominees for the Community Improvement Initiative grant included:
- The Delta College Foundation, for its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Resource Hub – Train the Trainer Toolkits
- The Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation, for its Hall Hicks Achievement Center
- The Rescue Ministries of mid-Michigan, for its Higher Purpose program
- The Saginaw Art Museum, for its African American and Video Art Galleries
Also honored at the celebration were recipients of the Mridha Foundation Teacher of the Year Award, Craig Coopersmith with Carrollton Public Schools; the Joseph W. Madison Youth Award, Joseph Courville, a student at Frankenmuth High School; and the Frank N. Andersen Spirit of Philanthropy Award, Sarah and Mike Jury with the Jury Foundation.
Davis, who has held a primary residence near the Los Angeles area for work and made the trip back to Saginaw for each STEM Saturday event, said because of how quickly and expansively the program is growing, he has already begun the process to make a permanent return home to Michigan.
Read more from MLive:
Saginaw police rewarding kids with 7-Eleven Slurpee drinks during Operation Chill
Saginaw Township Fire Department warns of T-shirt sale scam
Saginaw school board member Ruth Ann Knapp receives alumni award
Bay City employees volunteer with Salvation Army
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