Lake County Gazette

Community Consolidated School District 21 and Chicago Public Schools students will benefit from the Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization's (iBIO) STEM Kit program.

More than 2,300 kits were created to provide lessons about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The kits will go to students at the Oliver W Holmes Middle School and London Middle School in CCSD21 and Walter L. Newberry Math and Science Academy and Edward N. Hurley Elementary School in CPS.

"Through this opportunity, students will have increased hands-on access to explore STEM concepts at home, share a passion for STEM with family, expand curiosity and foster excitement for discovery," CCSD21 Superintendent Michael Connoly said in a March 18 iBIO release.

With support from pharmaceutical company Astellas, 330 students in third through eighth grade will benefit from the iBIO's new STEM Kit program to "fill an essential education gap" exacerbated by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

"Now more than ever, it's vital that we find creative ways to encourage and engage today's youth," Steve Sabus, Astellas senior vice president and head of the Medical Specialties Business Unit, said in the release.

Students will receive the kits monthly. A kit includes an educational activity, how to apply the lesson in real-life situations and how that project can translate into a future career.

"We are excited to provide our students with access to the STEM kits to further their exposure and enthusiasm for the content areas addressed; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics," Newberry Math and Science Academy Principal Linda Foley said in the release.

Astellas and its subsequent foundation started partnering with iBIO 10 years ago to support STEM education in Illinois.

State Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) thanked iBIO in a tweet for "helping develop our curious young thinkers."