Science Museum receives $300,000 grant

AT&T recently awarded the Miami Science Museum a $300,000 grant through its ASPIRE program, one of the largest corporate commitments ever to address high school success and workforce readiness. The grant will support the development of the Museum’s Upward Bound Math and Science college readiness program from October 2012 through September 2014. The program is for low-income, first generation college-bound students in grades 9-12.

There are several key elements of the Museum’s college readiness program: ongoing college counseling services, a week-long overnight college tour, entrance exam preparation, application assistance and sustained encouragement and support.

During the school year, students will participate in Saturday sessions at the Museum, including a wide variety of workshops with hands-on science activities, tutoring and homework help, college preparation, computer lab access and internship experiences. Optional after school activities will include tutoring in all subjects, conducted by college level mentors. In the summertime, students will participate in an intensive 6-week program that provides them with further insight into college curriculums.

“We are very thankful to AT&T for this generous grant,” said Miami Science Museum President & CEO Gillian Thomas. “With these funds, we can continue to aid students’ beliefs in their abilities and help motivate them to stay on track for college and during their college careers.”

AT&T’s ASPIRE program is the company’s most significant education initiative to date and one of the largest corporate commitments ever to address high school success and workforce readiness. The program is centered around four key components: awarding grants to school districts, school district foundations and nonprofit organizations focused on preparing students for college and/or the workforce;  provide job shadowing opportunities for 100,000 students, in conjunction with Junior Achievement Worldwide, giving students the chance to see firsthand the job skills needed to be successful in the future; commissioning the next chapter of major research on the high school dropout issue and solutions by directly engaging educational practitioners; and underwriting 100 community dropout-prevention summits, organized by America’s Promise Alliance, to engage education experts and community leaders across all 50 states around the high school dropout crisis and ways to address it.

For additional information on Miami Science Museum’s Upward Bound Math & Science Center and/or AT&T’s ASPIRE program, please contact Tony Lima at 305-646-4209 or at tlima@miamisci.org.