The Boys & Girls Clubs of Border Towns was recently awarded $41,000 to enhance Science, Technology, Engineering and Math academic programming.
The northern Maine clubs are among 16 Boys and Girls Clubs to receive STEM funding from U.S. Cellular this year.
The $41,000 will be split between three clubs – Boys and Girls Club of Maliseet in Houlton, Boys and Girls Club of Micmac in Presque Isle and Boys and Girls Club of Sipayik in Perry – to help cover operating costs at each site, said Jon Solomon, chief executive officer of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Border Towns.
“Overall, STEM education equips students with essential skills for the future, fosters innovation, and contributes to societal progress and economic development,” Solomon said.
In 2023, UScellular’s grant funds were used to support Club members who built functioning robots, brainstormed solutions to local environmental challenges and hosted STEM fairs for local businesses.
“We believe every young person should have the chance to explore a STEM education,” said Brandi McCune, director of sales and operations for UScellular in New England.
According to Solomon, STEM education teaches students how to analyze complex problems, break them down into manageable parts, and come up with logical solutions.
It prepares students for careers in rapidly growing fields like artificial intelligence, data science, healthcare, and engineering, which are in high demand globally, he said.
“STEM education encourages students to experiment, think outside the box, and come up with new ideas,” he said. “This innovation is essential for technological advancement and solving global challenges, such as climate change, healthcare, and energy production.”
This is the tenth consecutive year that the company has supported the clubs.
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