By Tonya Dixon
Science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) education resources and opportunities will get a boost at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University through a $500,000 grant from Toyota.
The university and Communities in Schools of Randolph County have each received half of the total $1 million donation.
The College of Education (CEd) at N.C. A&T will establish the Toyota STEAM Lab, a new laboratory designed for K-12 learners and provide A&T elementary and secondary education majors space to practice teaching with devices and technologies designed for K-12 student use. Additionally, the grant will boost workforce readiness, expand student education and exposure opportunities to STEAM education in North Carolina.
“We are grateful that our friends at Toyota understand that the key to meeting the challenges of the STEAM workforce of the future is to invest in rich STEAM educational opportunities for students today,” said Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. “This announcement is great news for the students and faculty of our Aggie Academy lab school, STEM Early College, and the A&T Four Middle College. It is also a further illustration of what a great corporate citizen Toyota has become in the state of North Carolina. We deeply appreciate their leadership.”
The grant will also provide collaborative mentorship opportunities and projects between A&T students from all majors and other campus schools.
“Having the Toyota STEAM Laboratory space designed for K-12 learners in our College of Education will greatly strengthen our abilities to enact Practice-Based Teacher Education at both the Elementary and Secondary Education levels for our Educator Preparation students,” said CEd Dean Paula Price, Ph.D. “We also look forward to inviting other K-12 students, including those from Randolph County, into the space in the near future as our partnerships grow. This is an exciting time for the College of Education.”
