The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $119,000 in grants to 65 schools within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12.

Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness campaigns. Each school district allocates a portion of their annual youth education funding provided by the District to support the Splash! grants in their county.

The District awarded grants to the following schools/teachers in Manatee and Sarasota counties:

• Ashton Elementary School – Kelly Griffith
• Bayshore High School – John Silva
• Booker High School – Toni Riebe
• Brookside Middle School – Katie Hill
• Marjorie G. Kinnan Elementary School – Meggan Lutes
• Louise R. Johnson K-8 School of International Studies – Deborah Peters
• Manatee High School – Boontarika Elswick
• Myakka City Elementary School – Anna Kuehn
• Phillippi Shores Elementary School – Suzette Trapani
• Toledo Blade Elementary School – Madeleine Tarsek
• Venice Middle School – Beth Mayberry

Grants are available for freshwater resources field studies, water-conserving garden projects, community or school awareness campaigns and on-site workshops. Last year’s Splash! grants brought water resources education to nearly 10,487 students throughout the District. For more information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/SchoolGrants.

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