Duke Energy Foundation Grant Helps Conner Prairie Bring STEM Education to the Classroom
Grant helps Conner Prairie bring interdisciplinary education to the classroom.
FISHERS, Ind. (Wednesday, September 12, 2018/Conner Prairie) – Conner Prairie announced today that the museum is the recipient of a $70,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation to help support Conner Prairie’s goal of bringing interdisciplinary education directly to elementary-age students in Indiana.
The grant will allow Conner Prairie to bring its unique approach of integrating history and STEM to classrooms through education programs inspired by its Create.Connect exhibit, which blends stories of Indiana history with science experimentation, problem-solving, and critical thinking. The new Prairie Mobile will travel to elementary schools in Duke Energy’s Indiana service area with the aim of inspiring curiosity and fostering learning through history and STEM-related education and hands-on activities.
The Prairie Mobile outreach program is also made possible through the generous support of several individual contributors, and will feature Conner Prairie historical interpreters and storytelling that will help students discover how science, technology, engineering and math fit into Indiana’s rich past.
“STEM education helps nurture critical thinkers, increases interest in science, and most importantly, engages future innovators,” said Conner Prairie President and CEO Norman O. Burns. “Through our longstanding partnership with Duke Energy, we are excited to deliver innovative STEM education that provides opportunities for students in unique and engaging ways.”
This is Duke Energy Foundation’s latest endeavor supporting Conner Prairie, the most recent being a $15,000 grant to help fund Makesmith Workshop, one of the museum’s feature exhibits which opened in January of this year.
“This project is a way to put Indiana’s living history museum on wheels and deliver the lessons of Conner Prairie to students around the state,” said Duke Energy Indiana President Melody Birmingham-Byrd. “Conner Prairie has a long history of inspiring children in science, history, art and nature, and the Prairie Mobile expands the reach of one of central Indiana’s largest attractions.”
About Conner Prairie
Spanning more than 1,000 wooded acres in Central Indiana, Conner Prairie welcomes more than 400,000 visitors of all ages annually. As Indiana’s first Smithsonian Institute affiliate, Conner Prairie offers various outdoor, historically-themed encounters and indoor experiential learning spaces that combine history and art with science, technology, engineering and math to offer an authentic look into history that shapes society today. Conner Prairie is a 501(c)3, nonprofit organization – accredited by the American Alliance of Museums – that relies on grants and philanthropic donations from individuals, corporations and foundations for sustainability and growth. Visit connerprairie.org or call 800-966-1836 for admission dates, hours, ticket prices and opportunities to donate and volunteer.
About Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to address the needs of the communities where its customers live and work. The foundation provides more than $30 million annually in charitable gifts. The foundation’s education focus spans kindergarten to career, particularly science, technology. Engineering and math (STEMM), early childhood literacy and workforce development. It also supports the environment and community impact initiatives, including arts and culture. Duke Energy employees and retirees actively contribute to their communities as volunteers and leaders at a wide variety on nonprofit organizations. Duke Energy is committed to building on its legacy of community service. For more information, visit http://duke-energy.com/foundation.
Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center serves as a multimedia resource for journalists and features news releases, helpful links, photos and videos. Hosted by Duke Energy, illumination is an online destination for stories about people, innovations, and community environmental topics. It also offers glimpses into the past and insights into the future of energy.
Media Contacts
Christine DeJoy, Conner Prairie
317-760-6000 ext. 163 / dejoy@connerprairie.org