Tuskegee University News January 26, 2015 525,000 grant will help support STEM education in local schools The Macon County pipeline to future science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers will soon get even stronger with Tuskegee University's help. National promotion of STEM and preparation for higher education have been top priorities for President Barack Obama's administration and the focus of Tuskegee's grant is to provide a strong STEM foundation to local students so they are prepared to engage in college level studies. The Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded Tuskegee $175,000 per year for three years to bring learning activities and tutorials to the university's students and children in local K-12 schools. For Tuskegee students, the funds will help build critical thinking skills with a new Peer Group Tutorial. The grant will also help establish an outreach program with local K-12 schools that will feature a STEM Saturday academy and hands-on science projects for middle school students. Dr. Ben Oni, the principal investigator for the grant and associate professor in the Electrical Engineering Department, said the tutorial program for the grade school students would be for 12 weeks in the spring and fall semesters. Held on Saturdays, the program will reinforce chemistry, physics, and math skills. High school math and science teachers as well as Tuskegee University students will serve as tutors. "Tuskegee University shares the same community with local students. Naturally, the Tuskegee Family's first instinct is to reach out to the immediate community members," Oni said. The grant is part of the Consortium on Materials and Energy Studies, which aims to support National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA) goals relevant to the Department of Energy national laboratory energy and materials missions. The consortium's primary purpose is to increase minority hires at the DOE national laboratories. To learn more about the program, contact Dr. Ben Oni at: oni@tuskegee.edu or 334-727-8990. * Employment<http://www.tuskegee.edu/about_us/employment.aspx> * Future Students<http://www.tuskegee.edu/future_students.aspx> * Student Life<http://www.tuskegee.edu/student_life.aspx> * Media<http://www.tuskegee.edu/marketing.aspx> SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.