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GSSM Foundation Receives $3,000 Plum Creek Foundation Grant
April 23, 2010
Source: Plum Creek Foundation
Five outstanding students in South Carolina who are passionate about science and math will be able to enjoy summer programs with emphasis in these subject areas thanks to a $3,000 grant by the Plum Creek Foundation. The grant was received by GSSM, which will select the students and provide them with financial aid to attend a week-long course this summer.
GSSM's annual Summer Science Program (SSP) offers high-quality camps in math and science to middle-school students from across the state. Designed for talented young teens interested in scientific principles, these camps provide enriching field trips and hands-on lab experiences. SSP sessions are taught by GSSM faculty along with college and university professors from state institutions.
Each week-long SSP camp is designed to build on the innate curiosity of young learners and offer real-world experiences to help these students discover how science, mathematics and technology relate to their everyday lives. Campers learn to build robots, explore the physics of roller coasters at an amusement park, delve into scientific techniques of crime-scene analysis and hike the Great Smoky Mountains to study ecology firsthand, among other adventures.
"Through the Summer Science Program, students acquire and build skills that they can apply in academic and personal explorations well beyond their camp experience," said Kim Bowman, GSSM Foundation Executive Director. "The program's ultimate goal is to motivate students to pursue studies and careers in engineering, medicine, research, business and related fields."
The Governor's School Foundation has committed to provide $12,500 in 2010 to offer need-based financial aid to South Carolina students who need this assistance to attend SSP. These funds are raised by the Foundation through grants and corporate contributions.
"The Plum Creek Foundation believes in supporting the communities where we live and work," said Charlie Reece, marketing manager for Plum Creek in South Carolina. "We are pleased to help the Governor's School provide financial aid to five deserving students, who will be able to explore their interest in science and math in new and unique ways."
The mission of the Plum Creek Foundation is to provide philanthropic contributions to support and improve the overall quality of life in the communities that Plum Creek serves. The Foundation board meets quarterly to review applications submitted from organizations in the company's operating communities. Visit the Community Involvement page on Plum Creek's Web site at www.plumcreek.com to download an application.
