Venango Region Catholic School receives STEAM activities grant

From staff reports

Venango Region Catholic School in Oil City will transform an underutilized school lab into a STEAM activity area thanks to funding from the Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania.

A $12,777 grant from the Catholic Foundation will provide the basic infrastructure of the area.

This area will include state-of-the-art laptops, a large-screen television and a 3D printer creating STEAM experiences in programming, 3D printing, video creation, and more while increasing the use and application of math skills.

Gregory Knox, director of technology for Venango Region Catholic School, which encompasses Venango Catholic High School and St. Stephen Elementary School, wrote in his application that “all students deserve a learning opportunity that provides collaborative, hands-on, creative ways to explore their curiosities and expand their horizons while increasing their use of, and application of math skills.”

This grant from the Catholic Foundation is possible because of donations to the Foundation’s education endowment.

“Our mission is to strengthen and grow the church’s mission and ministries in northwest Pennsylvania. These grants carry out the hopes and intentions of faith-filled donors who wanted their generosity to extend beyond their lifetimes,” said Catholic Foundation executive director Lisa Louis.

The Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania is an independent 501(c)(3)corporation and is governed by a board of directors comprised of Catholic lay men and women from throughout the Diocese of Erie.