Wayne Community College is expanding Camp Kilowatt beyond its campus into four schools this summer with the support of a $25,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation.
This is the ninth year of the day camp and of the energy company’s support of it through a grant to the Foundation of Wayne Community College.
The camps explore STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) by providing hands-on learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom.
The grant was one of more than 70 donations Duke Energy made to education and workforce training initiatives throughout North Carolina. The Duke Energy Foundation gave more than $2.7 million this year to enhance programs and initiatives focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning, childhood reading proficiency, and workforce development.
“Duke Energy is thrilled to continue its support of Wayne Community College and expand Camp Kilowatt to more students,” said Millie Chalk, community relations manager for Duke Energy. “Smart investments in students and STEM initiatives strengthen the pipeline of highly-skilled workers who will lead us to a smarter energy future in North Carolina.”
Camps in four Wayne County Public Schools – Spring Creek Middle School (June 26-29), Grantham Middle School (July 10-13), Carver Heights Elementary School (July 24-27), and Brogden Middle School (July 24-27) – will focus on STEM through solar and electronics projects such as solar bags and solar cars, wind turbines, secret alarms, robots, glider launchers, and rockets.
Around 150 Wayne County students will be able to attend the four-day camps being held at their schools at no charge, thanks to the grant from Duke Energy. The grant is covering supplies, T-shirts, and two teachers plus an instructor from the community college to run each of the camps.
The camp that will be held on the college’s campus (July 10-13) will give more than 50 middle and high school students the opportunity to learn about and use engineering principles and programs to create a model bridge and a rocket.
When Camp Kilowatt was started, “the idea was to get into the community,” said camp coordinator Steven Reese, an Engineering and Manufacturing instructor at the college. “This year we are able to implement it, thanks to this grant.”
A number of students who have aged out of the camp will return as volunteers to supplement the counselors on the college’s campus, Reese said, which is proof of the following Camp Kilowatt has developed.
About Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to address the needs of the communities where its customers live and work. The foundation provides more than $30 million annually in charitable gifts. The foundation’s education focus spans kindergarten to career, particularly science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), early childhood literacy and workforce development. It also supports the environment and community impact initiatives, including arts and culture.
Duke Energy employees and retirees actively contribute to their communities as volunteers and leaders at a wide variety of nonprofit organizations. Duke Energy is committed to building on its legacy of community service. For more information, visit www.dukeenergy.com/foundation.
Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com.
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About the Foundation of Wayne Community College
The Foundation of Wayne Community College is a non-profit organization that works to broaden the base of community support for educational opportunities at the college. This year it assisted 344 students with 544 scholarships worth more than $393,000. It also provides funding for innovative campus projects and employee recognition, and offers cultural programs for the community. For more information about the Foundation, go to waynecc.edu/foundation.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, it serves 14,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 70 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves. For more information, go to waynecc.edu.