Water District awards grants to area schools for education projects
$97,640.28 in grants was awarded to 43 educators within the water district as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades Kindergarten through 12.
Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities, and awareness campaigns. Each school district allocates a portion of their annual youth education funding provided by the District to support the Splash! grants in their county.
The District awarded grants to the following schools/teachers in its northern region:
Academy of Environmental Science - Jake Shidner (Citrus County)
Central High School - Rachel Kingdom and Chad Willman (Hernando County)
Dunnellon Elementary School - Nancy Garvin (Marion County)
Gulf Coast Academy of Science and Technology - Joseph Gatti (Hernando County)
Lake Panasoffkee Elementary School - Brittny Sanders (Sumter County)
Pine Grove Elementary School - Brittany Johnson (Hernando County)
South Sumter High School - Thomas Allison (Sumter County)
South Sumter Middle School - Michelle Alberto (Sumter County)
Stanton Weirsdale Elementary School - Lisa Decker (Marion County)
Williston Elementary School - Pricilla Fugate (Levy Couny)
Grants are available for freshwater resources field studies, water-conserving garden projects, community or school awareness campaigns and on-site workshops. Last year’s Splash! grants brought water resources education to 5,478 students throughout the District. For more information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/SchoolGrants.