On Tuesday, July 22, 2014, Dr. Derrick D. Jordan gratefully accepted a check in the amount of $65,000 from Indira Everett, Duke Energy’s district manager for Chatham County. The check represents funding awarded from The Duke Energy Foundation.
With the leadership of Jaime Detzi, Chatham County Education Foundation Executive Director, the district applied for funding for science kits for students in grades K-8. These kits teach inquiry-based learning via hands-on science. Inquiry based learning begins with gathering the data, via the science kits requested, on subjects such as weather, solar systems, hydrosphere and chemical interactions. Students will not be waiting for facts from the teacher, but actively seeking solutions. This skill strengthens our goal to provide 21st Century learning to all CCS students.
“We consider this grant an investment in our future workforce,” said Everett. “The students who are discovering through science kits today will be tomorrow’s engineers and environmental experts.”
Aside from the quantitative data that is shown via NC assessment scores, hands on inquiry-based science can provide our students with a love for learning and a skill that reaches far beyond science, learning to question. While learning to question the data or results, students can transfer this skill of problem solving to all areas in their academics, as well as personal lives. These skills will travel with them for the remainder of their lives into their careers and families.
Duke Energy Foundation makes charitable investments on behalf of Duke Energy, the largest electric power holding company in the United States with 7.2 million customers in six states. Over the foundation’s long history in local communities, it has identified focus areas that maximize the foundation’s dollars and guide the foundation’s giving. In North Carolina, Duke Energy Foundation invests $16 million annually for community support and charitable contributions. To learn more about Duke Energy Foundation, visit www.duke-energy.com/community.
Chatham Education Foundation strengthens communities in Chatham County, NC by partnering with community residents, businesses, and foundations to improve education opportunities for public school students. Since 1993, CEF’s volunteers and community supporters have brought new learning experiences to public school students and their teachers with grant programs and partnership projects.
