The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $108,937 in grants to 51 educators 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 Pasco and Pinellas counties:

• Achieve Center at Wesley Chapel - Meghan Butler (Pasco)
• Dayspring Academy - Chris Anzalone (Pasco)
• East Pasco Education Academy - Dr. Jose H. Olmo (Pasco)
• Frontier Elementary School - Gina Owens (Pinellas)
• J. W. Mitchell High School - Dennis Koslin (Pasco)
• Moon Lake Elementary School - Amy Craver (Pasco)
• Safety Harbor Middle School - Vanessa Barkman (Pinellas)
• Seminole Elementary School - Denise Barto (Pinellas)
• Shady Hills Elementary School - Margaret Higgins (Pasco)
• West Pasco Education Academy - Shamsher Lamba (Pasco)

Grants are available to support water education programs and activities that are focused on water cycle basics, freshwater or estuarian ecosystems, water quality and water conservation. For more information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/SchoolGrants.