FirstEnergy Corp. is offering education grants of up to $500 for creative classroom projects planned for the 2013-2014 school year.  Applications are due September 16.

The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Classroom Grants are awarded for creative, individual classroom projects for grades pre-kindergarten through 12.  The grants are available to educators and youth group leaders located in communities served by FirstEnergy's 10 electric operating companies, and in communities where the company operates generating plants or does business.

"Our goals are to encourage innovative classroom learning in the STEM subjects; to support professional development for educators in these critical areas; and to expose both students and teachers to the wide variety of career possibilities in the STEM fields of study," said Delores Jones, manager, Community Initiatives.  "The students who benefit from these programs could someday work at FirstEnergy as engineers, scientists, accountants, analysts, information technologists and electricians."

Grants will be awarded based on the recommendations of the FirstEnergy Education Advisory Council.  Winners will be notified by October 7.  More than 1,000 STEM grants have been awarded to educators and youth group leaders since 1986.

The application and more information about grant criteria are available on FirstEnergy's website.

7/1/2013