STEM Mini-Grants

Check out a map of the locations of schools who have received MiSTEM Mini-Grant Awards and their business/community partners:

2021-22 Cycle

The STEM Mini-Grant Program is to support educators in the teaching and learning of STEM in K-12 classrooms and out-of-school time programs. The emphasis is on stimulating new teaching ideas and new learning opportunities made possible through the creative spark of educators. An additional emphasis is placed on developing community outreach projects in which students and schools to work with local business partners and community organizations to solve local problems and develop career awareness, exploration, or preparation.

Eligible Applicants

The program is open to all public school teachers and out-of-school time educators in Allegan, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Ottawa Counties, for grades K-12. Team projects from several educators working together with multiple groups of students are also accepted and encouraged.

Funding/Budget Guidelines

K-12 Teachers	Maximum WITHOUT a business/community partner	Maximum WITH a business/community partner
1 Teacher	$500	$1,000
2 Teachers	$1,000	$1,500
3 Teachers	$1,500	$2,000
4 or more teachers	$2,000	$2,500

Out-of-School Educators	Maximum WITHOUT a business/community partner	Maximum WITH a business/community partner
1 Teacher	$300	$600
2 Teachers	$600	$900
3 Teachers	$900	$1,200
4 or more teachers	$1,200	$1,500

Expenditures for program materials to enhance or extend a regular program or to create a new program are encouraged. If a pre-packaged kit is the major activity for your project, indicate how you would supplement the kit and customize it for your program. All purchases should be tax-exempt and sales tax will not be reimbursed. Stipends are not an allowable expense for these grant funds.

Criteria for Review

Applications will be reviewed by a team of regional stakeholders. Winners are determined on a county-wide competitive basis, with awards going to the top-ranked proposals. Priority will be given to proposals that:

Increase equity of access to STEM fields for under-served groups
Include a business/community partner
Demonstrate a potential for positive impact on students and community
Demonstrate an integrated/interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary approach to STEM education
Includes a detailed budget and clear rationale for expenses
Align to standards
Adhere to proposal guidelines

For questions or technical assistance, contact Olga Martinez-Capistran at martiolg@gvsu.edu.

Mini-Grant Winners

2021-2022 Grant Cycle Awardees

County	Teachers and Partners	Project Name	Amount
Allegan	Dale Quattrin, Valli Capterton, Beth Johnston, Stephen Potter, Anthony Lincoln Allegan County Area Technical & Education Center (ACATEC) Partner: Edgewater Automation	To Space and Beyond!!	$1,655.90
Kent	Bobbijo Zoerhof and Jane Van Hof Kentwood Public Schools; Valleywood Middle School Partners: Groundswell, GVSU, and Trout Unlimited	Stewards of Buck Creek: 3D printed enviroscape, water solution designs and water testing kits	$1,500.00
Kent	Jessica Priem, Tami Nelson ,Dalila Flores, Kari Logan, Emily Dafoe Godfrey Lee Public Schools	ECC Legends Lab - K-2 Makerspace	$1,992.06
Kent	Adrianne Rose, Julia Bierema, Jessica Priem, Adam Lurie, Melissa Donovan, Troy VanTuien Godfrey-Lee Public Schools Partners: MiSTEM Network, Michigan Department of Education, REC Foundation, and Amazon Future Engineers/Project STEM	Full STEAM Ahead Curriculum Development	$1,500.00
Muskegon	Chad Majeske and Erica Trowbridge Oakridge Public Schools; Oakridge Middle School Partners: The Boys and Girls Club, Muskegon Lake Shore, and Mitten Drone Media	Escape Room: Drone Edition	$1,470.00
Muskegon	Heather MacDonald, Sarah Tabler, Stephani Lewis, Emily Morehouse Orchard View Schools; Cardinal Elementary	Maker Space Lab for Cardinal Elementary	$2,000.00
Muskegon	Dylan Darga, Janelle Carr, Michelle Schuitema, Devany Schumaker Muskegon Public Schools; Bunker Elementary, Marquette Elementary, Moon Elementary, Oakview Elementary	Muskegon Public Schools- Elementary STEM Lab	$1,799.96
Muskegon	Rebecca Sandee, Devin Perez, Shanna Frazier, Rebecca Droski, Emily Workman Reeths-Puffer Schools; Central Elementary Partners: Michigan Farm Bureau, Muskegon Area Beekeepers, and West Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative	Bringing the FARM to Central Elementary	$2,125.00
Newaygo	Stephanie Dood, Travis DeVos (Grant Location), Alexis Mercer (Newaygo Location), Renee Platt (White Cloud/Hesperia Location) Newaygo; Grant Public Schools, Newaygo Public Schools, White Cloud Public Schools, and Hesperia Community Schools Partners: Kropscott Farm Environmental Center, Newaygo County Public Schools, The Gerber Foundation, and Fremont Area Community Foundation	Nature is our Educator-Place Based Learning	$6,000.00
Ottawa	Samantha Ludlam Coopersville Area Public Schools; Coopersville High School Partners: Hehlden Farm, DeVries Meats, Drummond Meat Processing, and Meat Market	Meat Evaluation & Technology	$491.00

Here is the list of past awardees and partner organizations:

Click to view 2019-2021 Mini-Grant Program Grant Awardees.

Services provided through a MiSTEM grant awarded by the Michigan Department of Education

Page last modified May 17, 2022

Report a problem with this page