Omaha Public Schools Benefits From Big Red Keno STEM-Enrichment Grant

Big Red Keno recently announced the award of $57,000 to six youth-serving organizations that will impact 13 schools in eastern Nebraska through its 2018 Science & Math Program. The program supports the enrichment of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education opportunities. Omaha-area recipients are Omaha North High Magnet School, Lothrop Magnet School, and Beyond School Bells.

Grant recipient Beyond School Bells, Nebraska’s statewide afterschool and summer learning network, received funds to bring a Think, Make, Create (TMC) Lab to the Omaha community. The TMC is a fully equipped, enclosed trailer that provides a full range of STEM supplies supporting pop-up tinkering, making, creative play and learning. The TMCs were given by Beyond School Bells to Civic Nebraska to support the students at three Omaha schools: Sherman Elementary School, Lewis and Clark Middle School, and Lothrop Magnet School.

Lothrop Magnet School allocated funds towards the purchase of new STEM materials, including Magformers – STEAM, MobyMax software, Code-a-pillars, and more.

Two-time grant recipient Omaha North High Magnet School used funds to purchase Alternative Energy Classroom kits is building a solar bench to be installed on the school’s green roof. While charging electronic devices through the new Solar Bench, students can explore solar, fuel cell, wind, and hydro-energy concepts with hands-on building.

The application process for the Science & Math Program took place in the fall and was open to any community that operates a Big Red Keno location. Since Big Red Keno’s Science & Math Program began in 2016, more than $200,000 has been awarded to 17 different youth-serving organizations. View all grant recipients and event details at www.bigredkeno.com/science.