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 Manatee and Sarasota counties:

• Alta Vista Elementary School - Andrew Jaffee (Sarasota)
• Ashton Elementary School - Tiffany Lloyd (Sarasota)
• Bay Haven School of Basics Plus - Kandace Budai (Sarasota)
• Bayshore High School - John Silva (Manatee)
• Lakewood Ranch High School - Tana Phelps (Manatee)
• Manatee High School - Boontarika Elswick (Manatee)
• Palmetto High School - Natalie Richard (Manatee)
• Suncoast Polytechnical High School - Patricia Altomare (Sarasota)
• Wilkinson Elementary School - Tessa Healy (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.