EdVenture board members, (l–r) Lee Mikel, SCANA; Dr. Linda Bell, SCDHEC; Susan Cotter, Colonial Life; Michael Borden, Carolina Ceramics; Kevin Butler, Bank of America Congressman Jim Clyburn (D–SC) addressed the EdVenture audience Monday morning with the good news. EdVenture had been awarded a $1.3 million federal stimulus grant from the National Institutes of Health, the largest competitive federal grant awarded to a South Carolina museum. Part of the American Recovery & Investment Act, the money is slated to expand health programs and to encourage more S.C. high school students to pursue careers in science and technology. Clyburn said only four percent of S.C. high school students actually attain a degree in science to pursue a career in the field.

Called “Unlocking the Mysteries,” the project is on a five–year schedule. During that time, the project will serve approximately 2.5 million children and their adults.

Catherine Horne, CEO, EdVenture Clyburn passed on a note of congratulations from U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R–SC), who helped secure the grant but could not be present.

Congress, according to Clyburn, is looking to pump more money into historically black colleges and universities to encourage majors in science, and the same money is being directed down into high schools and even middle schools, which is where EdVenture benefits.

The NIH grant is also targeting expanded health programming. Part of what he wants is to help eradicate the health disparities in his 6th Congressional District while he generates district–wide interest in pursuing science–tech- nology–engineering–math– related careers.

Clyburn said S.C. is 42nd in the country for overall health of its citizens, which is no surprise, particularly when considering the combined health threats of diabetes, stroke, cancer, infectious and cardiovascular diseases. Clyburn warned that his district leads the Free World in prostate cancer deaths. He referred to his territory as the Buckle on the Stroke Belt.

Congressman Jim Clyburn (l) and Steve Morrison, EdVenture board member and candidate for mayor. The NIH is funding 20 grants across the country in the Science Education Partand nership Award category, investing in long–term, community–building programs. EdVenture’s $1.3 million is to take three directions to: (1) educate multi–generational families about chronic diseases; (2) provide hands–on classes for students from kindergarten through the eighth grade, exposing them to science career possibilities; (3) expand EdVenture’s programs for students from the seventh grade through high school with a focus on minority and under–served populations.

“The NIH funding is transformational for EdVenture and enables us to increase services to older youth, encouraging and preparing them for careers in science, technology, engineering, and math,” said EdVenture CEO Catherine Horne. “The grant will help us to focus on increasing student achievement in the sciences, address health disparities, and make a positive impact in workforce development.”

The program will include the creation of two new teaching laboratories, which should take another 18 months to complete.