Randolph-Macon Academy receives stem grant from Toshiba America Foundation for $5,000

FRONT ROYAL, VA – Randolph-Macon Academy is pleased to announce it has received a $5,000 STEM grant from the Toshiba America Foundation (TAF). These funds will improve the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) program at the Academy.

Specifically, the grant will be used to purchase a tabletop microcentrifuge, a shaking incubator, and micropipettes, which provide avenues for the Biotechnology class to explore DNA technology thoroughly and accurately. “This equipment will allow me to give students a lab experience just like a professional research environment,” commented Dr. Nicholas Bongio, R-MA’s science teacher who discovered, applied for, and obtained the grant.

While Bongio applied for the grant with the Biotechnology class in mind, he said that the Advanced Placement Biology class and even the regular-level biology classes would benefit from the equipment that would be purchased.

“The world of science and technology is moving forward at lightning speed, and we are thankful to Toshiba America Foundation for their support as we also surge forward,” commented R-MA Upper School Academic Dean Jonathan Ezell. “This grant will help ensure the success of Biotechnology, which is a new class at our school this year.”

Mr. Paul Hickey, the Director of Sales for the Toshiba America Information Systems, will visit the Randolph-Macon Academy campus on Wednesday, October 18th at 2:35 p.m. to present the check to Bongio.

Toshiba America Foundation’s grants fund projects designed by individual classroom teachers. This “direct-to-teacher” approach brings immediate results. Teachers are able to change the way they teach Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects because the grant supports equipment for hands-on experiments and inquiry-based approaches to the curriculum. At TAF, we believe that STEM is a lot more fun than just reading a textbook. TAF grants provide teachers with the tools they need to be more effective educators. The grants make the classroom a more exciting place for both teachers and students.

About Randolph-Macon Academy

Randolph-Macon Academy (R-MA), founded in 1892, is a college-preparatory, coeducational boarding school for students in grades 6 through 12.  Students in grades 9-12 participate in R-MA’s 91st Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC), and have the opportunity to learn to fly in a unique flight program.  R-MA, which is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, is also one of only six Falcon Foundation Schools in the U.S. The Academy is located in Front Royal, VA.

About Toshiba America Foundation

Founded in 1990 with support from Toshiba Corporation and the Toshiba America Group Companies, Toshiba America Foundation (TAF) is a non-profit grant making organization dedicated to helping classroom teachers make STEM learning fun and successful for K to 12 students in U.S. schools. TAF grants support public and nonprofit private schools throughout the United States.  For more information, please visit: www.toshiba.com/taf.