The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $97,640.28 in grants to 43 educators within the 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 K-12.
Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through 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)
- Central High School - Rachel Kingdom and Chad Willman (Hernando)
- Dunnellon Elementary School - Nancy Garvin (Marion)
- Gulf Coast Academy of Science and Technology - Joseph Gatti (Hernando)
- Lake Panasoffkee Elementary School - Brittny Sanders (Sumter)
- Pine Grove Elementary School - Brittany Johnson (Hernando)
- South Sumter High School - Thomas Allison (Sumter)
- South Sumter Middle School - Michelle Alberto (Sumter)
- Stanton Weirsdale Elementary School - Lisa Decker (Marion)
- Williston Elementary School - Pricilla Fugate (Levy)
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.