Grants, Awards & Freebies
Grants, awards & freebies - Feb. 28, 2008
Feb 28, 2008 2:03 PM
Technology awards: CDW-Government, a technology consulting firm, and Discovery Education, a provider of digital education content, have announced their annual Win a Wireless Lab sweepstakes. The labs include 20 computers, a projector, printer, wireless access points, a mobile cart and more. Five grand-prize winners will receive a lab valued at $50,000. In addition, five first-prize winners will receive an interactive whiteboard or a video projector; 10 second-prize winners will receive a notebook computer; and five third-prize winners will also receive digital camcorders. Applicants will also be entered into a random monthly drawing with a chance to win a whiteboard for their classroom. School teachers, administrators, school and district technology specialists can apply. DEADLINE: May 1. CONTACT: http://cdwg.discoveryeducation.com/.
Invention grants: The Lemelson-MIT Program for Invention and Innovation offers grants to support high school invention teams. Public or vocational high school science, math and technology teachers can apply. Teams of students, teachers and mentors are asked to work together in class or as an extracurricular project to identify a problem they want to solve and research and then develop an invention out of the information they gather. Collaborations within or between schools are encouraged. Awards of up to $10,000 will be made. DEADLINE: April 25. CONTACT: http://web.mit.edu/inventeams/about.html; e-mail:inventeams@mit.edu.
Teachers wanted to ‘test drive’ site: Project Tomorrow, a nonprofit national education group, is seeking up to 50 teachers in schools nationwide to participate in Project TestDrive. The project asks teachers to examine and evaluate science, technology, engineering and math resources from the National Science Digital Library. NSDL is a resource funded by the National Science Foundation. Teachers who participate will have the chance to use NSDL resources free of charge and network with other professionals. Participants must identify, implement and evaluate seven to 10 online resources from the library, participate in training sessions and collaborate with other K–12 educators through discussions, seminars or conference calls. CONTACT: www.tomorrow.org/programs/testdrive.html.
Summer seminars for HS teachers: The Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers offers teachers the chance to spend a week enriching their understanding of literature and history at The New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. Each participant will receive a $300 stipend, the use of a private office (with computer), catered breakfasts and lunches throughout the week, as well as all books and research materials. Two seminars will be offered: Reading to Write: A Creative Writing Workshop (July 21–25) and Slavery, Emancipation and the Slave Narratives (July 28–Aug. 1). Each seminar is limited to 14 participants. High school English teachers, history teachers, librarians and administrators can apply. DEADLINE: March 24. CONTACT: www.nypl.org/csw.
Teaching excellence awards: Turnaround Management Association (TMA) Butler-Cooley, a nonprofit professional organization, seeks teachers who have changed the outcome of children’s lives. Up to five K-12 teachers who have been teaching for at least five years can win a $5,000 grant plus travel expenses to the convention. Winners will be recognized at the 20th annual convention in New Orleans, Oct. 27–29. DEADLINE: May 1. CONTACT: Applications are online at: www.turnaround.org/about/awards.asp; or for more information, contact Michelle Drayton, public relations manager, 1-312-242-6044; e-mail: mdrayton@turnaround.org.
Braitmayer Foundation grants: These grants range from $10,000 to $35,000 and are awarded to programs that enhance the education of K–12 students. The grant may fund school reform initiatives and professional development for teachers, particularly those which encourage people of high ability and diverse background to enter and remain in K–12 teaching. DEADLINE: June 1 (applicants will be notified by Sept. 1). CONTACT: Sabina Taj, advisor, 6470 Freetown Road, Columbia, MD 21044; phone: 1-410-480-2799; Web address: www.braitmayerfoundation.org.
Microsoft training for teachers: Microsoft offers these training programs to help teachers acquire the skills needed to prepare their students to meet the challenges of a competitive global society. The Microsoft Innovative Teachers program is designed to build community among teachers, helping them collaborate with their colleagues, provide access to quality content and challenge educators to use technology in innovative ways. The program has two main offerings: the Innovative Teachers Forums and the Innovative Teachers Networks. CONTACT: www.microsoft.com/education/innovativeteachersabout.mspx.
Jordan Fundamentals Grant program: Each year, a significant number of projects with individual teacher approaches that attempt to engage students in school using either experimental or traditional strategies effectively will be funded as Innovation Grants. These projects should incorporate a number of critical components such as addressing specific student needs, providing multiple examples of how the program will be effective, and addressing at least one or more of the grant program objectives. The maximum award for this grant is $10,000. The Inspiration Grant, averaging $10,000 or more, will be awarded to teams of teachers to support scaling up the implementation of approaches originally developed with Innovation Grants. Applicants must be public school teachers or paraprofessionals working with students in grades 1-12. Specific guidelines are available on the Web site. DEADLINE: March 30. CONTACT: www.nike.com/jumpman23/features/fundamentals/guidelines.html.
