The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $107,969 in grants to 58 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 Manatee and Sarasota counties:

• Bayshore High School - John Silva (Manatee)
• Manatee High School - Boontarika Elswick (Manatee)
• Palmetto High School - Natalie Richard (Manatee)
• Parrish Community High School - Allison Knaust (Manatee)
• Parrish Community High School - Savanna Finley (Manatee)
• Bay Haven School of Basics Plus - Jelena Stojicevic (Sarasota)
• Emma E. Booker Elementary School - Andrew Jaffee (Sarasota)
• Englewood Elementary School - Kim Woike (Sarasota)
• Englewood Elementary School - Lauren Hanrahan (Sarasota)
• Lamarque Elementary School - Jennifer Dehart (Sarasota)
• North Port High School - Zachary Ward (Sarasota)
• Phillippi Shores IB World School - Suzette Trapani (Sarasota)
• Suncoast Polytechnical High School - Nina Henderson (Sarasota)

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.