Beckman Foundation Awards Irvine Public Schools Foundation $25,000 Orange County Community Support Grant
Engineering Pathway Program Partnership will Engage 850 Students in Hands-on STEM Education
IRVINE, Calif. (June 27, 2024) – The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation today announced Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF) as the latest recipient of its Orange County Community Support Grant, issuing a $25,000 partnership award for the Engineering Pathway Program which will engage 850 students in STEM education across four area high schools. Beckman’s local community support grants fund organizations with innovative STEM/STEAM activities, projects, and/or events within the Orange County, California area that align with its aim of “supporting young scientists today for tomorrow’s breakthrough discoveries.”
““The Engineering Pathway Program empowers students to explore their curiosity and elevates their understanding through hands-on STEM learning experiences that teach new, relevant skills with real-world applications. We’re excited to support worthwhile programs like this, helping to build on the momentum of its success and enrollment growth, focused on connecting with underrepresented students and increasing accessibility.”
Over the past three years, student participation in the Engineering Pathway Program grew by 400 percent. District-wide, 18 sections are currently offered with the goal of preparing students for college entry as STEM majors and pursuit of future college careers. An intentional, ongoing focus of the program has been to increase recruitment and enrollment among female and ethnic minority students in engineering classes. Additionally, collaborations with Irvine Unified School District’s Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH) Program are underway to establish a DHH Principles of Engineering course accessible to DHH students.
“As a dedicated partner since 2017, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation has funded grants over the years that helped make incredible STEM Education and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs available to Irvine students including the Engineering Pathway Program, the 21st Century Career Conference, and the Irvine CubeSat STEM Program,” commented Neda Eaton, IPSF President and CEO. “Support from the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation of the Engineering Pathway Program helps ensure that students have access to the latest technology and equipment as well as industry certifications that would otherwise be out of reach. We are proud to work together to ensure that students have opportunities to discover their passions and create a brighter future for our community.”
About the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation
Located in Irvine, California, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation supports researchers and nonprofit research institutions in making the next generation of breakthroughs in chemistry and the life sciences. Founded in 1977 by 20th century scientific instrumentation pioneer Dr. Arnold O. Beckman, the Foundation supports United States institutions and young scientists whose creative, high-risk, and interdisciplinary research will lead to innovations and new tools and methods for scientific discovery. For more information, visit beckman-foundation.org.
About Irvine Public Schools Foundation
The mission of the Irvine Public Schools Foundation is to enrich the educational experience of each child in every school, achieved by providing programs, raising funds and uniting the community in support of educational excellence. IPSF believes that every student deserves an educational experience complete with access to music, art, and science programs, both during the school day and outside of the classroom, and that providing enrichment opportunities for children will help foster the next generation of thinkers, innovators, and creators. For more information, visit ipsf.net.
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Press Contact - Beckman Foundation:
Kaerie Ray, Curator & Communications Officer
949-560-4232
Press Contact - Irvine Public Schools Foundation:
Amanda Brenner, Marketing & Communications Associate
949-265-6408
