Marcellus High School awarded $15,000 grant
In early 2020, Bayer Fund’s America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education partnered with local farmers to nominate rural public school districts and award grants to enhance their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum.
Because area farmers answered the call, through Grow Rural Education, Bayer Fund awarded a $15,000 grant to Marcellus High School.
A brighter tomorrow for farming communities starts with a commitment from Bayer Fund today, which is why the America’s Farmers programs have awarded more than $57 million to rural America since 2010. Marcellus High School is one of the many schools across the country that has benefited from Bayer Fund’s Grow Rural Education program.
Grow Rural Education grants have helped schools purchase an array of STEM-related materials, such as augmented-reality sandboxes, weather-forecasting and robotics equipment.
Marcellus High School will use the Grow Rural Education funds to build an industry standard greenhouse. Students in grades 9 – 12 will be able to use the facility to grow plants in a variety of ways as well as conduct experiments and participate in projects across different academic disciplines.
“As educators, we are constantly looking for ways to develop our curriculum to reflect the needs of the students and the expectations for graduates,” said teacher Joe Killian. “We could not continue to provide advanced agricultural and STEM opportunities if it were not for the support of community members and industry. Marcellus is thankful for the agricultural community who nominated their school for this grant and Bayer Fund’s Famer Advisory Council who have shown a commitment to the growth and development of agriculture at Marcellus.”
To qualify for a Grow Rural Education grant, farmers nominate a public school district to compete for a merit-based $15,000 grant. School districts that are nominated, then submit a grant application describing their STEM-focused project. Grow Rural Education’s Farmer Advisory Council, consisting of a panel of math and science teachers and approximately 30 farmer leaders from across the country, review the finalist applications and select the winning school districts, including Marcellus High School.
“Bayer Fund and the farmers we partner with feel incredibly passionate about Grow Rural Education because we’re investing in our children – who are our future – by enhancing STEM learning in rural public school districts,” said Al Mitchell, president, Bayer Fund. “We are always amazed by the incredible support of local farmers, as well as the countless ways Grow Rural Education brings teachers, students and people in the community together to set children up for success.”
To view a complete list of winners or to learn more about the America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education program, visit AmericasFarmers.com or follow along on Facebook at facebook.com/AmericasFarmers. Farmers are also encouraged to participate in Bayer Fund’s America’s Farmers Grow Communities program, which is accepting farmer enrollments through November 1, 2020. Grow Communities protects the programs and institutions that keep farmers and their communities thriving by allowing farmers to enroll for a chance to direct a $2,500 donation to their favorite local eligible nonprofit organization.
