(left to right): Jackie Knox (Highmore Harrold Junior High), Tom Durkin (SD Space Grant), Kelly Hinds (Simmons Middle School, Aberdeen, SD), and Laurie Elmore (SDSU Extension Harding County 4-H)

• Jackie Knox of Highmore Harrold Junior High is a biology teacher who saw the value of robotics in engaging student interest in STEM and who began a robotics club at her school last year that competed in BEST Robotics competition at SDSU. With 20 highly motivated students and only one robot last year, she saw the need for additional robotics supplies to grow the program and give each of her students more of a hands-on opportunity in 2017.  Her $2,209 grant will help with that.
• Kelly Hinds of Simmons Middle School in Aberdeen, SD, teaches a PLTW (Project Lead The Way) Engineering Design and Modeling course to her 6-8^th graders.  Kelly was provided a $2,266 grant to purchase supplies that will help her add a PLTW Automation and Robotics course to their school's 8th grade curriculum.
• Laurie Elmore, a 4-H Youth Program Advisor with SDSU Extension Harding County 4-H won a $1,653 grant to purchase “Junk Drawer Robotics” supplies to start a new robotics program in the Harding Co. area for middle and high school age youth.