Core Points - FirstEnergy Foundation is donating $55,000 to New Jersey educational programs focused on electrical trades and STEM, as part of over $5.5 million in community support distributed in 2025 [1][2][3] Group 1: Funding and Support - The grants will support various electrical education and STEM programs for students from elementary to college levels [2][3] - Specific programs receiving funding include Brookdale Community College ($20,000), Warren County College ($15,000), Sussex County Community College ($10,000), Ocean County College ($5,000), and Ocean County Foundation for Vocational and Technical Education ($5,000) [6] Group 2: Community Engagement - JCP&L employees are actively participating in educational activities, such as Career Day at Ocean County Vocational and Technical School, sharing their expertise with students [4] - The company regularly hosts STEM groups from local schools at its headquarters, providing insights into electrical grid management [4] Group 3: Company Overview - JCP&L serves approximately 1.2 million customers across multiple counties in New Jersey [6] - FirstEnergy operates one of the largest investor-owned electric systems in the U.S., serving over six million customers across several states [8]

MERIDIAN, Idaho, Nov. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PCS Edventures!, Inc. (“PCSV”), a leading provider of TK-12 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (“STEM”) education programs, today announced results of operations for its second quarter of fiscal year 2026, which ended on September 30, 2025. Second Quarter FY 2026 Overview: Revenue decreased 32.5% to $1,529,503 in the second quarter of FY 2026 compared to the prior year.Gross margin of 58.0% in the second quarter of FY 2026 compared to 59.7% in ...

Core Points - Edison International is accepting applications for its Edison Scholars program, which offers a total of $1.5 million in scholarships for high school seniors pursuing STEM careers [1][2] - Each scholarship is valued at $50,000 and is awarded to 30 students annually within Southern California Edison’s service area [2][4] - The program also provides opportunities for paid summer internships with Southern California Edison after the first year of college [2][3] Eligibility Criteria - Applicants must be high school seniors residing in the service area of Southern California Edison and plan to enroll as full-time undergraduate students majoring in a STEM field in fall 2026 [3] - A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and demonstrated financial need are required, with first-generation college students encouraged to apply [3] Application Process - The application deadline for the Edison Scholars program is January 22, 2026, and recipients will be announced in Spring 2026 [4] - Interested students can apply through the website edisonscholars.com [4] Program Impact - Since its inception in 2006, Edison International has awarded over $20 million to 820 students, making it one of the largest corporate philanthropic contributors in Southern California [4]

Core Insights - The American Water Charitable Foundation awarded a $35,000 Workforce Readiness grant to the North Scott Community School District to support the Regional Innovation Center, which aids high school students in communities served by Iowa American Water [1][2][3] Grant Details - The grant is part of the Keep Communities Flowing Grant Program, which focuses on career readiness, financial literacy, positive youth development, and life skills training [2][8] - The funding will enhance STEM programs, particularly the robotics team at North Scott High School, providing necessary resources for hands-on learning [2][3] Organizational Impact - Since 2012, the American Water Charitable Foundation has invested over $20 million in grants and matching gifts to support eligible organizations in communities served by American Water [3][8] - Iowa American Water emphasizes the importance of investing in youth and workforce training to create meaningful change and stronger communities [3][4] Company Overview - American Water is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S., serving over 14 million people across 14 states and 18 military installations [5][7] - Iowa American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in Iowa, providing services to approximately 227,000 people [7]

Core Insights - The Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC) is a prominent STEM competition for middle school students, with a focus on inspiring young talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics [1][3][9] Group 1: Competition Overview - The competition reached 60,000 middle school students across the U.S., with 30 finalists selected from nearly 2,000 applicants from 48 states and territories [3] - The top prize, the $25,000 Thermo Fisher Scientific ASCEND Award, was awarded to Miles Wu for his innovative research on origami-inspired engineering [1][2] - The finalists collectively received over $100,000 in awards during the ceremony [3] Group 2: Research Highlights - Miles Wu's project involved testing 54 variations of the Miura-ori fold, demonstrating that designs with smaller panels and steeper angles could support over 9,000 times their own weight, with potential applications in disaster relief [2] - Other notable projects included Akhil Nagori's development of glasses that translate text to speech for visually impaired students, and Peter Fernández Dulay's examination of AI biases in science [5][6] Group 3: Awards and Recognition - In addition to the top prizes, first-place winners in each STEM category received $3,500, while second-place winners received $2,500 to support STEM summer camp experiences [11] - The Team Award recognized a group for their collaborative problem-solving skills, with each member receiving a $200 gift card for science supplies [12] Group 4: Organizational Commitment - Thermo Fisher Scientific's sponsorship of the Junior Innovators Challenge reflects its commitment to broadening access to STEM education, with significant investments in school-based programs and employee volunteer efforts [9][10] - The Society for Science, which organizes the competition, aims to promote understanding and appreciation of science, ensuring opportunities for students to pursue STEM careers [14][15]

Core Insights - Newton Golf Company is participating in an educational program with World Long Drive to inspire students through the science of golf [1][2][6] - The initiative combines live competition, classroom learning, and hands-on demonstrations to illustrate physics principles in athletic performance [2][3] - The company's technology, particularly the Newton Motion™ shafts, is gaining traction among professionals for enhancing performance [5][6] Company Overview - Newton Golf Company (NASDAQ: NWTG) focuses on advancing golf through physics-based engineering and U.S. manufacturing [8] - The product portfolio includes premium shafts, putters, grips, and accessories designed for golfers of all levels [8] - The manufacturing facility in St. Joseph, Missouri, ensures high-quality control with all products made in the USA [8] Educational Initiative - The program aims to connect classroom concepts like velocity and energy transfer to real-world applications in golf [3][6] - Long Drive athletes participated in demonstrations showcasing the application of physics in achieving elite performance [4][5] - The company plans to expand this STEM-driven educational initiative to reach more schools and communities nationwide in 2026 [6]

Core Insights - Toyota USA Foundation is granting up to $5.8 million over five years to the Clark County School District to enhance STEM education [2] - The initiative aims to provide equal access to quality STEM jobs and resources for students and teachers [2][3] - The Driving Possibilities initiative is part of Toyota's broader commitment to workforce readiness and community engagement, with over $78.3 million announced in multi-year grants to date [3] Funding and Collaboration - The funding will support innovative tools and programs to embed STEM strategies in classrooms and provide sustained learning for teachers [2] - Toyota is collaborating with local organizations such as Project Lead the Way and the Just One Project to address community needs [2][3] - The initiative is funded by the Toyota USA Foundation, with additional contributions from Toyota Motor North America and Toyota Financial Services [3] Community Impact - The Clark County School District will implement stackable STEM programming across all educational levels and develop a professional development program for educators [3] - Schools will also provide essential services to families, fostering a stronger and healthier community [3] - Nevada is the tenth site for the Driving Possibilities initiative, which has been active for over 65 years in various forms across the U.S. [3]

STEM Education and National Development - Nations with higher STEM education levels correlate with greater economic value and patent production [3][4] - Top technology companies leading in value originate from countries with strong STEM education [4][5] Challenges in Nigeria - In 2019, Nigeria had only 80,668 STEM graduates [5] - From 2010 to 2025, only 340 patents were filed in Nigeria, indicating a significant gap [5] - Only 293% of students in Nigeria score above 50% on the JAMB exam [6] The Early Birth Project's Intervention - The Early Birth Project aims to provide STEM education to students preparing for JAMB and WAEC [7] - The project has seen students achieve improved JAMB scores, with some exceeding 200 [8][11] - A significant number of candidates, 13, scored above 200, representing 61%, and 84 passed the 180 cutoff mark [11] - Math scores were notably high among candidates, indicating potential in science and STEM [11] - Some students have received scholarships for cyber security and admissions to universities [11] Call to Action - The project emphasizes that even small efforts can transform lives [1][12] - The project seeks support through funding, community involvement, and individual contributions [9][10][13]

Core Insights - PCS Edventures!, Inc. has appointed Dr. Suzanne DeZego as Chief Operating Officer to enhance its growth and impact in STEM education [1][5] - Dr. DeZego brings extensive experience in scaling educational services and operational expertise, positioning PCS as a national leader in STEM delivery [2][5] - The company emphasizes experiential learning in STEM for TK-12 students, aiming to develop 21st-century skills [6] Company Overview - PCS Edventures!, Inc. is based in Meridian, Idaho, and focuses on technology-rich products and services for the TK-12 market [6] - The company aims to inspire the next generation of innovators through hands-on STEM education [5][6] Leadership Background - Dr. DeZego has a strong background in education, having served as Vice President of Operations for a national K-12 instructional provider and as Founding Principal of a high-performing charter school [2][3][4] - Her previous roles include Director of Continuous Improvement and Director of Professional Development in Missouri school districts, focusing on accountability and faculty development [3][4] Strategic Vision - The appointment of Dr. DeZego is seen as a significant step for PCS, with expectations for her to oversee Sales, Marketing, and Product Development departments [5] - Dr. DeZego expressed enthusiasm for joining PCS and emphasized her commitment to expanding the company's reach and enhancing the student experience [5]

Group 1 - K12 has launched the 2025–26 K12 Robotics League season, aimed at students in grades 4 through 12, focusing on skills in coding, engineering, and collaborative problem-solving [1][3] - Registration for the competition opens on September 3, 2025, and will remain open until November 12, 2025, allowing students to register individually, form teams, or participate through schools or after-school clubs [2][5] - The K12 Robotics League, now in its fourth year, has engaged hundreds of students nationwide and culminates in a national in-person championship each summer, providing access to practice tools and resources for participants [3][5] Group 2 - Key dates for the competition include registration opening on September 3, 2025, the competition season beginning in January 2026, and the national championship scheduled for June 2026 [5] - K12 has been a leader in virtual education for 25 years, serving over three million students and offering flexible learning options, including online public and private schools, personalized tutoring, and accredited homeschool curriculum [5]