The Greater Lynchburg Community Trust has awarded a $6,200 grant to the Future Focus Foundation to support regional STEM education efforts. Funds received from the grant will be used to support the purchase of needed robotic equipment for the newly opened XLR8-Lynchburg Regional Governor’s STEM Academy as well as continue to offer the popular Jr. FIRST LEGO League Expo event.
The XLR8 – Lynchburg Regional Governor’s STEM Academy is a new regional program offered to public school juniors and seniors. The school was created through a collaborative effort between all Region 2000 school divisions, Region 2000 Technology Council, Central Virginia Community College, Future Focus Foundation, Region 2000 Workforce Investment Board and multiple industry partners. The Academy opened its doors to offer the first learning pathway “The pathway to Engineering” in August 2013. For more information about the XLR8-STEM Academy please visit the academy website at https://www.xlr8academy.com/
The 2013 Jr. FLL program included 33 teams and 204 student participants. Jr. FLL combines real world issues with the fun of LEGO building to develop critical thinking, problem solving, and teamwork skills for youth ages 6-8 years old. Jr. FLL teams meet beginning in January on a schedule defined by the coaches and parents up until the Expo event planned for April 26, 2014.
The Greater Lynchburg Community Trust was established in 1972 with the principal mission to “enhance the quality of life in the communities served by the establishment of permanent endowments for the cities of Lynchburg and Bedford and the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, and Campbell with income distributed annually to charitable organizations within the community. ” More information on the Greater Lynchburg Community Trust may be found at http://www.lynchburgtrust.org/