FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Lori Trent, PAST Foundation - ltrent@pastfoundation.org
April 14, 2022
PAST Receives $3,000,000 Grant from Battelle to Fund The STEM Identity Project
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The PAST Foundation is the proud recipient of a $3,000,000 three-year Battelle grant that will impact and expand the formation of STEM identity in students across the Pre-K12 ecosystem. Traditionally, many students were not aware of STEM opportunities until their entrance to post-secondary enrollment and/or the STEM workforce. This project will change the diversity dynamics in STEM by introducing STEM concepts from the beginning of students’ formal educational experience and continue throughout their educational journey.
PAST Foundation believes that a student’s STEM identity plays a powerful role in an individual’s success in educational environments, as well as on their career goals and the ability to earn a sustainable wage in STEM careers after high school or college. Problem based learning (PBL) is the educational strategy that can increase academic performance. In addition, PBL contributes to the development of positive and inclusive STEM identities and increases retention in the STEM workforce.
“Traditionally STEM identities have been white, male, Eurocentric perspectives, and not readily available to all students regardless of gender and race,” said Dr. Annalies Corbin, President & CEO of the PAST Foundation. “PAST and Battelle collectively want to change that narrative so that all students can pursue STEM opportunities equally.”
“A quality STEM education opens the door to tremendous opportunity for every child,” said Wes Hall, Vice President of Philanthropy and Education. “The STEM Identity Project will connect thousands of young people in Central Ohio to these life-changing experiences. As the region’s hub of the Ohio STEM Learning Network, the PAST Foundation will serve as the launchpad for growing STEM excellence and equity.”
In order for The STEM Identity Project to accomplish large scale impact for students in three years, the program includes these primary initiatives: increasing the K-8 reach in Central Ohio through PAST Innovator Clubs, reframing Summer School experiences for Central Ohio Middle School students, scaling High School STEM workforce development initiatives, and working directly with Central State University’s Teacher Pre-Service program to help highly qualified STEM teachers into our schools. These approaches will specifically focus on at-risk, high-need student populations supporting diversity and inclusion for minority educators throughout Ohio.
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 serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org.
For more information contact Katy Delaney at (614) 424-7208 or delaneyk@battelle.org or T.R. Massey at (614) 424-5544 or masseytr@battelle.org.
About PAST Foundation:
PAST, a non-profit organization, is a leader in designing innovative educational opportunities across the nation and around the world, bringing problem-based learning to educators and experiential programs to students. During PAST’s 22 years, we have impacted hundreds of thousands of students and educators while engaging hundreds of businesses and industry leaders. Building a community of learners that helps students prepare to solve the world’s problems is our core outcome.
PAST was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for its Excellence in Innovation in the STEM 2026 vision report, being the only Ohio educational entity included in this publication. In 2021, PAST’s Innovation Lab was featured in Forbes Magazine as a promising example to “Re-imagine High School” and also recognized by the White House Summit on High School Design in 2015.
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