Instructify

BY BILL FERRIS

Check out these upcoming educational grants, as listed on Grant Wrangler.

Last minute:

Gladys Marinelli Coccia Awards — Deadline August 1
This award recognizes young (14 to 17-year-old) female social entrepreneurs who start enterprises for the common good. The winner receives $2,000 for the enterprise, travel, and access to social enterprise resources from Youth Service America.

Challenge 20/20 — Deadline August 17
This program pairs U.S. K-12 schools with schools in other countries. Teams of two or three schools “tackle real global problems to find solutions that can be implemented at the local level and in their own communities.”

Coming up soon:

LEGO Smart Creativity Contest — Deadline August 31
Create a classroom activity using the materials in a LEGO smart kit. If your projects are creative and educational enough, you could win $100 worth of LEGO Education products and gift certificates, or even the $250 grand prize. (Editor’s note: I was unable to confirm that you also get a trophy you assemble yourself out of LEGOs.)

Technology Grants for Rural Schools — Deadline September 14
Rural schools can win between $1,000 and $10,000 to beef up their technology. Possible proposals can include computer equipment, improved internet access, computer-assisted learning programs, and whatever else your geeky imagination can come up with. You have to be a public K-12 school within the service area of an OPASTCO telephone company — click here to see if your school is eligible.

AIAA Educator Achievement Award — Deadline September 30
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Foundation will recognize seven top-notch math and science teachers who get kids excited about their subjects, and about tomorrow’s technologies. Each winner and a guest receives an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala. 

Whenever you get around to it:

Motorola Community Grants — Rolling deadline
Motorola will give undisclosed amounts of money to schools and community organizations that promote science, technology, engineering and math.