ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 19, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Challenger Center for Space Science Education has been named the recipient of a $150,000 grant from the Toyota USA Foundation. The award will allow for the creation and distribution of space education materials to 3rd - 8th grade students and teachers in underserved and underprivileged school communities.
The Toyota grant will provide funding to create educational materials based on space science, written in direct relation to the National Science Standards, that will be disseminated though the network of 52 Challenger Learning Centers in the U.S.
"We are delighted to renew our partnership with the Challenger organization," said Patricia Pineda, Group Vice President, Corporate Communications and General Counsel of Toyota Motor North America, Inc. "Previously, our Foundation has supported Challenger Center science education programs in North Carolina and in California. This new association will allow us to assist the Challenger Center for Space Science Education in developing a curriculum and a set of educational tools to help teachers in underserved rural and inner-city schools improve student understanding and performance in math and science."
Upon notification of the award, Dr. Bill Gutsch, president and chief executive officer, Challenger Center for Space Science Education, said, "We are proud and honored to receive this generous gift from the Toyota USA Foundation. With this support, we will have the ability to create and disseminate important materials in the areas of physical science, engineering and mathematics to thousands of teachers and students, with an emphasis on reaching underserved and underprivileged areas."
"Lessons and related experience developed through the Toyota USA Foundation's grant will serve to strengthen a teacher's skills in these vital disciplines as well as help young people achieve better science and mathematics literacy and proficiency, and, we hope, inspire some to pursue careers in these areas," he added.
The Challenger Center for Space Science Education was launched in 1986 by the families of the astronauts who perished in the Space Shuttle Challenger. Its mission is to inspire future generations to pursue careers in science, engineering and technology. Today there is a nationwide network of Challenger Learning Centers located in science museums, on university and school campuses and as stand-alone entities.
The new program, being developed in response to requests from the Challenger Learning Centers, will develop a space-based science curriculum that will aid in the teaching of fundamental mathematics and science as well as lessons that cover algebra, logic, graphing and physics, among others. The materials will be packaged on a compact disc and distributed to schools by the local Challenger Learning Centers.
Joining the Challenger Center for Space Science Education in receiving a Foundation award during this grant cycle were Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ; Wayne State University, Detroit, MI; and Science Buddies, Carmel, CA.
The Toyota USA Foundation is a $40 million charitable endowment created to support innovative education programs serving kindergarten through 12th grade in the United States, with special emphasis in the areas of mathematics and science. For additional information about the Toyota USA Foundation, visit www.toyota.com/foundation.