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 Hillsborough County:

• Heritage Elementary School - Jean Josephson
• Knights Elementary School - Caylee Thompson
• Medical Academy at D.W. Waters - Brittany Loubier-Vervisch
• Newsome High School - Julie Wernicki
• Oak Park Elementary School - Kaylin Schemmel
• Pierce Middle School - Sigrun Ragnarsdottir
• Spoto High School - Robert Lacombe
• Tampa Bay Technical High School - Julie Sackles
• Temple Terrace Elementary School - Naomi Frierson
• Town and Country Elementary School - Krystal Greenberg
• Wharton High School - Christi Atkinson
• Woodmont Charter School - Raina Fiallo

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.