PRISM grant to benefit STEM lab at Mattamuskeet ECHS

Published 4:05 pm Wednesday, March 18, 2020

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In late 2019, Dail Berry submitted an application to Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF) PRISM (Promoting Innovation in Science and Mathematics) Grant. Last week, Berry received congratulations from Burroughs Wellcome Fund stating that she had been awarded the PRISM grant in the amount of $1,200.

Berry is the instructor in the Hyde County Schools STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Lab for middle grades students at Mattamuskeet Early College High School located in Swan Quarter. This is the first year of HCS’s STEM Lab program being offered at  Mattamuskeet Early College High School.

The STEM lab prepares students for future careers by incorporating hands-on learning, soft skills and collaboration, while pushing students to problem-solve and innovate. Within the STEM Lab are stations that include forensic science, energy and power, coding, personal finance, alternative energy, mechanisms and laser technology. Students work together in teams to solve real-world problems while learning about STEM careers.

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Berry stated, “The STEM lab at Mattamuskeet Early College High School  is such an important addition to the school. It provides students opportunities that have not been offered before in our rural county!”

She said her decision to apply for the grant was based on the enthusiasm she has seen in her students since the new lab’s introduction. She felt that this grant would provide HCS with the opportunity to expand the current curriculum in the STEM Lab and allow students to go further and explore more within the STEM world.

In order to apply for the PRISM award, Berry had to create a project proposal that focused on science and/or mathematics. Berry’s application focused on the purpose of the new ab: “Promoting STEM and STEM Careers at Mattamuskeet Early College.”

With the new funds she will receive from this grant, Berry plans to add a robotics unit and resources to her curriculum. The BWF Grant requires the project to be implemented during the 2020-2021 school year.

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