Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus Sponsors 4 LCPS Schools to Create Makerspace

Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Janelia Research Campus is granting $2,000 each to Rolling Ridge Elementary, Guilford Elementary, Frederick Douglass Elementary, and Sterling Middle to assist with building makerspaces and supporting STEM education in their schools. The Loudoun Education Foundation (LEF) along with Michael Perham and Monti Mercer from HHMI Janelia Research Campus traveled to Rolling Ridge Elementary, Guilford Elementary, and Sterling Middle School today to present their staff and students with their grant. The team will be traveling to Frederick Douglass Elementary School tomorrow, January 10th, for a final check presentation.

Including these new grants, HHMI Janelia has given over $35,000 in makerspace grants to a mix of 18 elementary and middle schools across LCPS, including those who participate in the PROPEL and Level Up STEM after-school programs. In addition to providing financial support for equipment costs, they have partnered with each of the schools to establish a learning community where Janelia researchers come out to the school to see the makerspace and to lead curriculum or be a guest speaker for students in all grade levels!

Michael Perham, Director of Innovations and External Relations at HHMI Janelia Research Campus, shared, “HHMI Janelia is proud to extend our makerspace partnership with additional LCPS schools and encourage hands-on creativity for our youngest students.”

“Makerspaces within schools provide a powerful opportunity for our students to be hands-on, engaged creators and innovators,” said Dawn Meyer, Executive Director of the Loudoun Education Foundation, “The LEF greatly appreciates not only the funding for the materials that form the makerspaces at these schools, but also the expertise and guidance that HHMI Janelia provides to our teachers and students. They are helping to foster an optimal learning environment in which students are creative problem solvers.”