Dillard Middle School awarded $5,988 grant
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on June 8, 2007 1:45 PM
Dillard Middle School has been awarded a $5,988 grant for the purchase of biotechnology-related equipment, supplies and teaching materials.
The 2007-2008 North Carolina Biotechnology Education Mini-Grant affords the school the opportunity to develop new courses or programs and to enhance existing ones.
Dillard science teacher Darrell Coston won the award for the school. He was inspired to apply for it after attending a workshop last summer for middle school educators offered by the N.C. Biotechnology Center in Raleigh.
"The workshop gave Mr. Coston access to new ideas, challenging curriculum-based activities and intense networking with a diverse science community," said Dr. Ralph Smith, lead science teacher for Wayne County Public Schools.
"Mr. Coston teamed up with Kaye Brimmage, Dillard media coordinator, to write a grant request that helped outline how the school will implement an exciting biotechnology science curriculum next year."
The students will benefit from the rigot that the grant award will bring to the science classroom, said Sylvester Townsend, Dillard principal.
"This grant will give Dillard a unique opportunity to partner with the biotechnology industry in a mutual effort to provide our students well-planned curriculum-based science lessons, hands-on activities and special programming," he said. "It is our goal to help our students understand the everyday relevance of science, as well as consider biotechnology careers that can offer them successful futures."
The North Carolina Biotechnology Center has awarded nine grants totaling $46,305 to support biotechnology education at eight high schools and one middle school, Dillard, across the state.