West Michigan Chapter, ASM International - K-12 Grant Programs

The West Michigan Chapter of ASM International has initiated a K-12 Grants Program to promote and expose students to the world of materials science and engineering. The maximum amount of the award would be in the range of $500 to $750 depending on the number of school systems that are involved; however, smaller monetary award requests would be welcomed in order for a greater number of students to benefit.

4th Edition of WMASM 2008 K-12 Grants Program

The West Michigan ASM chapter will continue its K-12 Grants Program for 2008 awards. The program, conceived to promote and expose students to the world of materials science and engineering, is open to all West Michigan school systems. This is an outreach program to support tomorrow's material science and engineering professionals.

Interested teachers or administrators are urged to submit their applications to WMASM. It is recommended that a point of contact is established in a school system (preferable someone in administration; e.g. person in charge of curriculum & instruction) to send the information and application on the grants to all the science and shop teachers. Any WMASM member, who is aware of a school program that could benefit from this grants program is urged to contact the school and or Thomas Tom .

Grant Applications are available on the ASM website, or contact program director Thomas Tom at: thomas_tom13@yahoo.com. Grant Application deadline for 2008 will be March 21, 2008. Grant awards will be announced and presented at the May ASM meeting.

The maximum amount of the award would be in the range of $500 to $750 depending on
the number of school systems that are involved. The goal is to award one grant per school system and if there is funding still available, additional grants will be awarded based on ranking among the remaining grant applications.

Mona Shores School Board Meeting, June 4, 2007 was the sight for the 2007 WMASM Mini-Grant Award. WMASM Mini-Grant Coordinator, Thomas Tom presented the award check and certificate to this year's recipient, J. Patrick Rabbitt. ( See Photo).

Mr. Rabbitt teaches the Advance Metals class to grades 9-12. The Advance Metals class teaches students the fundamentals ( safety and operation ) of shielded Metal Arc Weldings (SMAW), in order to produce a quality weld.

The award, in the amount of $1679.33, will purchase a new Miller Syncowave 200 welder.

In the fall when the students return to class, WMASM member, Debbie Aliya will make a metallurgical presentation to the class. This will provide the class with information and hands on instruction regarding weld quality and specifications. This outreach will offer additional information from the standard class agenda and allow for student interaction with an experienced metallurgist.

WMASM applaudes the efforts of Mr. J. Patrick Rabbit and the Mona Shores School System to encourage students of today, to consider materials sciences for their future.

WMASM kicks off 2007 K-12 Grants Program at Kalamazoo Air Zoo.

WMASM kicked off the 2007 K-12 Grants Program with a visit to the Kalamazoo Air Zoo in November 2006. Teachers, students and WMASM members attended the event. Past grant winning teachers gave presentations about their school programs that were assisted by the grant money. See photos. Lunch was served and a tour of the Air Zoo was included.

Debra Cabot, Mona Shores Schools

Randy Kniebes, Coloma Middle School and Rueben Schwartz

The West Michigan chapter of ASM awarded three mini-grants through its K-12 Student Outreach Program for 2006.

The 2006 awards were presented to:

Randy Kniebes of Coloma Middle School,
6th grade Science.
Project: Comparison of physical properties of various materials and how magnets are used to generate electricity.

Kelly Ellis of Ross Park Elementary, Mona Shores Schools,
5th grade Science

Project: Interaction of electricity and magnetism with matter.

Faith Chichester of Mona Shores Middle School,
8th grade Algebra 1, Math 8.
Project: Parabolas - understand factors that change their shape.

The program offers funding for projects related to material sciences education. This is the second year that the chapter has offered this program to West Michigan area schools. Check the WMASM website for more information about the program.

The 2005 awards were presented to:

Debra Cabot, Mona Shores
Developing an Understanding of Magnetic Forces and the Magnetic Properties of Some Metals Through Classroom Investigations *

J. Patrick Rabbit, Mona Shores
Developing an Understanding of the Fundamentals & Safety or MIG Welding

* A special note of thanks to Tom Berwald, President of Applinetics, who donated 42 neodymium magnets. This saved $399.