Overview:
Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego announced Wednesday it distributed more than $375,000 in scholarships.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego announced Wednesday it distributed more than $375,000 in scholarships to tens of thousands of students during the 2022-2023 school year, representing a new record for the organization.
From onsite programs such as Discovery Labs and Beach Teaches to Aquarium Express Outreaches in schools and self guided field trips, more than 22,000 students received financial support thanks to generous donors, the organization said.
“Our education programming is a vital part of our mission to connect understanding to protecting our ocean planet. We are delighted to be able to offer scholarships to so many students who would not traditionally have the opportunity to experience hands-on science in this way,” said Executive Director Harry Helling. “We are so very grateful for the generous support from Birch’s community of corporations, foundations and individuals who continue to see value in Pre-K-12 STEM education,”
This year’s major donors included the Dr. Seuss Foundation, Illumina Corporate Foundation, The JEMProject, the Pincus Family Foundation, Price Philanthropies, SDG&E Foundation, U.S. Bank Foundation, Hervey Family Fund, and Dr. Charles F. Kennel and Dr. Ellen J. Lehman.
“We greatly appreciate all the hands-on experience taught by quality educators and scientists in the field,” said Megan Beckman, a sixth grade science teacher at Monroe Clark Middle School. “The ability to have scholarship funds available to our students has made the likelihood of becoming involved with science in their future more possible and within their reach.”
All of Birch Aquarium’s programs for students Pre-K-12 align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and support students’ in-class learning, while also serving the aquarium’s mission to connect understanding to protecting our ocean planet. Students explore topics from ocean habitats, to animal adaptations, to how scientists conserve species through a variety of hands-on programs whether at the aquarium, in the classroom, or in the field.
As the aquarium’s Education Team begins preparations for the 2023-2024 school year, opportunities are available to support next year’s programming. To learn more about how to give in an impactful way, please reach out to Rachel Wyman, director of development, at rwyman@ucsd.edu.
To learn more about Birch Aquarium’s school programs as well as how to apply for future funding for your school, visit aquarium.ucsd.edu.