Toyota Foundation awards math, science grants for K-12 projects

Black Issues in Higher Education, Feb 24, 2005 by Ronald Roach

NEW YORK

Earlier this month, the Toyota USA Foundation board of directors announced grants totaling $650,836 to fund four math and science education initiatives for K-12 grade students across the country. Award recipients included the University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, Mich.; the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, Los Angeles; Keep America Beautiful Inc., Stamford, Conn.; and Earth's Birthday Project, Santa Fe, N.M.

"Each of these recipients has developed a unique initiative designed to help K-12 students become more proficient in the areas of mathematics and science. The awards will help them implement these initiatives and provide additional training for teachers, in order to maintain and expand them throughout the years," said Atsushi "Art" Niimi, president of the Toyota USA Foundation, in announcing the grants.

The University of Michigan College of Engineering will use its $150,000 award to enhance its Summer Engineering Academy, a structured series of math and science enrichment programs that introduce seventh- to 12th-grade students to the disciplines, challenges and career opportunities of engineering.

A grant of $145,836 will allow the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy to implement the first two years of a projected nine-year innovative and reproducible K-9 science, math and engineering curriculum.