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Chemours middle school STEM initiative to launch in two Wilmington schools

Chemours ChemFEST STEM
Tom Byrne
/
Delaware Public Media

Two Wilmington schools will benefit from a new Chemours school partnership program focused on bringing STEM into middle schools.

Chemours is launching Chemours Future of Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology or ChemFES(T2) to invest in helping under-resourced middle schools teach STEM.

Wilmington’s EastSide Charter School and Serviam Girls Academy are the first two schools to tap into the program

Chemours Chemfest annoucement
Tom Byrne
/
Delaware Public Media
Serviam Girls Academy President Peggy Prevoznik Heins receives a check for ChemFES(T2) investment from Chemours CEO Mark Newman.

Chemours will provide Serviam multi-year support for STEM learning activities, lab equipment, and other resources, as well as funding a $250,000 Chemours STEM Discovery Capstone Program for eighth grade students.

That program will start next school year, and Serviam President Peggy Prevoznik Heins says ChemFES(T2) is a game-changer for the school

"The fact that we have resources that we can build for four years what this program is going to look like, we can build the curriculum for it internally, we can invest in resources, and we know that it's going to be there next year because we're a hundred percent donor supported," Prevoznik Heins.

Chemours’ investment at Eastside Charter includes four-million dollars to support a new 24,000 square foot community STEM facility.

EastSide Charter CEO Aaron Bass says the facility will be a hub that has reach beyond his students.

"I think it's even bigger for our community because this building is in partnership with the Wilmington Library," said Bass. "So that means the students will be able to use it, parents can use it after school, summertime, weekends so that the entire public gets a chance to engage with STEM, but also the company is becoming engaged with our community as well."

EastSide Charter School CEO Aaron Bass discusses Chemours commitment to bolster STEM education in middle schools

Chemours officials say ChemFES(T2) seeks to expose students to STEM education before high school with a goal of building a stronger and more diverse STEM workforce for the future.

Joe brings over 20 years of experience in news and radio to Delaware Public Media and the All Things Considered host position. He joined DPM in November 2019 as a reporter and fill-in ATC host after six years as a reporter and anchor at commercial radio stations in New Castle and Sussex Counties.