St. Lucie County classroom transformed into innovative STEM lab

Hannah Aldridge
·2 min read
Lakewood Park Elementary, the School District of St. Lucie County, the Education Foundation of St Lucie County and Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) employees cheered during a STEM Classroom Makeover reveal on Thursday, April 4 in Fort Pierce.
Lakewood Park Elementary, the School District of St. Lucie County, the Education Foundation of St Lucie County and Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) employees cheered during a STEM Classroom Makeover reveal on Thursday, April 4 in Fort Pierce.

Excitement filled the air as the doors swung open to reveal a remarkable classroom transformation.

Florida Power & Light Co. joined the St. Lucie County Education Foundation and the St Lucie County School District to celebrate the completion of the STEM Classroom Makeover at Lakewood Park Elementary in Fort Pierce.

The $50,000 grant from FPL allowed Lakewood Park Elementary to incorporate cutting-edge technology, 3D printers, interactive screen panels with a pivot table and two robotics kits, creating an immersive learning experience. The redesigned classroom now boasts new STEM technology, which will help enhance student engagement and foster creativity.

Lakewood Park Elementary fifth grade students competed in a generator build competition during a classroom makeover reveal in Fort Pierce.
Lakewood Park Elementary fifth grade students competed in a generator build competition during a classroom makeover reveal in Fort Pierce.

"We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the support and generosity of FPL," said Caitlin McMahon, STEAM teacher at Lakewood Park Elementary. "This grant has not only transformed our classroom physically but has also inspired our students and rejuvenated our entire school community.

"We sincerely thank FPL for its commitment to STEM education and for championing initiatives that enhance the learning experience for our students."

To mark this significant milestone, FPL and partners hosted a ceremony at Lakewood Park to showcase the transformed classroom and witness the positive impact of education in the lives of local students. FPL engineers led students in a generator build competition and participated in a virtual career discussion to introduce students to different STEM-focused careers.

Lakewood Park Elementary was one of five schools to receive Florida Power & Light Company STEM Classroom Makeover Grant for the 2022-2023 school year to transform their STEAM classroom.
Lakewood Park Elementary was one of five schools to receive Florida Power & Light Company STEM Classroom Makeover Grant for the 2022-2023 school year to transform their STEAM classroom.

"We firmly believe in the power of education and the difference it can make in the lives of young individuals," said Pam Rauch, FPL vice president of external affairs and economic development. "We are thrilled to be able to contribute to creating a dynamic learning atmosphere for the students of Lakewood Park.

"This classroom transformation represents our ongoing commitment to support education and provide students with the tools they need to thrive."

Florida Power and Light Company employees helped Lakewood Park Elementary fifth grade students compete in a generator build competition during their STEM classroom makeover reveal.
Florida Power and Light Company employees helped Lakewood Park Elementary fifth grade students compete in a generator build competition during their STEM classroom makeover reveal.

FPL’s STEM Classroom Makeover Grant program, now in its fourth year, provides $50,000 grants each to up to five schools in Florida to provide transformational learning opportunities in historically disadvantaged K-12 classrooms.

Funds are available to address needs in infrastructure, technology or resources that will advance STEM curricula, exposure and careers to diverse students in a classroom setting.

For more information about FPL's STEM Classroom Makeover Grant and its commitment to education, visit www.FPL.com/ClassroomGrant.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: St. Lucie County classroom transformed into innovative STEM lab