Sparklight to award $15K to support STEM education through ‘Dream Bigger’ contest

Communications provider Sparklight is inviting schools and organizations serving K-12 students to enter its sixth annual “Dream Bigger” contest for the opportunity to win $2,500 for their science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) project or club.

K-12 schools and organizations in communities throughout the 21 states Sparklight serves are eligible to participate. Entries can be made online by sending a photo and written summary outlining how the funds will be used for a technology project or group and how it will benefit students.

Six winners will each receive a $2,500 donation.

“STEM education helps students develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed for academic and career success,” said Trish Niemann, vice president of communications strategy. “Through Sparklight’s annual Dream Bigger contest, we are proud to help fund STEM-based initiatives that encourage students to develop these skills and find their passion within this rapidly growing career field.”

Entries will be accepted from Feb. 22 through March 12 at sparklight.com/contest. Twelve finalists will be selected by Sparklight, and the six winners will be determined by public online voting from March 14-21 at the same site. The finalists and winning schools and organizations will be highlighted on Sparklight’s Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) pages.

The ASK Academy in Rio Rancho was one of the six winners of the fifth annual “Dream Bigger” social media campaign last year.

The ASK Academy used the $2,500 to help students acquire the resources and equipment needed to explore new areas of robotics, physics and engineering as well as attend a STEM-related field trip.

“This funding will provide our students with the opportunity to access resources that would otherwise be unavailable to them, and will help them achieve their goals and make a positive impact in their community,” Ask Academy teacher Amber Lial said in May. “This is super awesome. We’re so excited the kids were just awesome about participating in voting and getting their parents to vote and it is just so amazing. We’re so thankful and grateful for everything that this is going to do.”