The Mississippi Power Education Foundation recently awarded 12 grants totaling more than $58,000 to schools, school systems and educational institutions throughout southeast Mississippi.

St. John Elementary School in Gulfport received a $2,000 grant for “Developing Student Scientists.” This hands-on science and education program unites students and schools from around the world via the Internet in gathering information on their environment. Teachers and students in grades 2 through 6 will be involved in taking detailed measurements at selected land sites and drawing conclusions about the collected data.

A $3,000 grant was awarded to the Biloxi School District for the Imagination Station Electric Kitchen. This permanent educational kitchen will provide students with hands-on activities which will reinforce skills taught in the regular classroom. The hands-on area features working electric stoves, ovens, microwave ovens and refrigerators.

Hawkins Middle School in Forest received a $3,436.70 grant to be used toward a forensic science project called “Mysterious Multiple Murders.” This project will enable students to learn the latest technology in solving criminal investigations. Students will utilize mental calculation, data collection, tables and graphs, observation and classification skills to interpret and solve various crime scenes.

The Gulf Coast Education Initiative will use a $27,735.35 grant to establish an Academy for Beginning Teachers. The Academy will be open to new teachers and will focus on research based strategies for effective teaching.

Sacred Heart Elementary in D’Iberville received a grant for $3,716.55 for a new project called “Getting the Big Picture.” The goal of this project is to provide other teaching methods for instruction by the use of a projector and software, increasing visual and auditory effectiveness.

A $755 grant was awarded to St. John High School in Gulfport for an Introduction to Robotics program. The money will be used to help create an opportunity to ignite an interest in robotics.

The Jones County School District received a $550 grant to aid in a program called “Holiday Heritage: Celebrating Cultural Diversity.” Students will study holiday customs, traditions and decorations of countries around the world so they may learn to respect and value diversity.

East Jones Elementary will be purchasing bugs with its $450 grant. The new “You’re Buggin’ Me” program will incorporate insect-related curriculum into the classroom and allow students to observe, study and then release insects into an outdoor classroom.

Gulfport’s Central Elementary received a $2,000 grant for the “Music Brings Us Together” project. Through monthly units of study in music, students will focus on Latin Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, African Americans, African and American cultures and the songs and dances that are unique to each.

“Sky Calls: The Night Sky in Your Classroom” is a program that was created for schools on the Coast. The program received a $9,920 grant to organize 12 “naked eye astronomy” observing activities for events that are scheduled to appear during the 2003-2004 school year. Each student will receive an activity sheet which they will be asked to complete with their parents during the evening at home.

Oakland Heights Elementary in Meridian received a $4,000 grant for a program called “Soar High to Score High.” Students from two counties and three districts will participate in one of the oldest, yet least known sports – pigeon racing. This project is intended to provide enthusiasm and enjoyment while mastering state benchmarks across the curriculum.

An $800 grant was given to the Pascagoula School District for the “Math for Life” program. This program will help teach seventh grade students many of the math skills necessary to function successfully in the world outside of school.

Since 1984, through its foundations, Mississippi Power Company has supported excellence in education in southeast Mississippi. During the past 19 years, the foundations have awarded more than $3 million in grants to teachers, schools, school systems and educational projects.