RAVE STEM Initiative Scholarships

RAVE STEM Initiative Scholarships is sponsored by RAVE STEM Initiative. Provides scholarships and community programs to open doors for students across Central Ohio in STEM fields.

RAVE STEM Initiative — Inclusive STEM. Real Impact. LEGO® Robot Wars Challenge Every student wins a medal with their winning LEGO robot!

Location Details Provided Upon Registration https://link. ra3. co/may30 Our mission, why this foundation exists, and who’s leading it.

Make sure every student has access to hands-on STEM learning. Robotics programs build confidence, creativity, and problem-solving in ways that traditional classroom instruction often can’t. But too many students are left out.

Whether it’s a lack of representation, limited access to hands-on programs, or financial barriers, the result is the same: kids who would thrive in STEM never get the chance to try.

RAVE STEM works to close that gap with portable, need-based scholarships, school partnerships, and community programs , meeting students where they are with hands-on STEM learning that builds real skills Every student who deserves a chance We serve any student who would benefit from hands-on STEM but faces barriers to access, including but not limited to: girls who don’t see themselves represented in STEM, learners who thrive with hands-on exploration, families navigating financial barriers, students in under-resourced schools, and communities without local STEM programming.

Scholarships. School partnerships. Community programs.

The students who would benefit most are the ones who rarely get the chance. Hands-on STEM education builds confidence, creativity, and problem-solving in ways that traditional classroom instruction But too many students are systematically left out. Limited representation, lack of hands-on programs, and financial barriers all contribute to a gap RAVE STEM exists to close that gap.

We fund portable, need-based scholarships , publish a multi-provider STEM resource guide for Central Ohio families, and partner with schools and community organizations to bring hands-on STEM directly to the students What hands-on STEM builds Curiosity about science & tech For many students, watching something they built actually work becomes a defining learning experience.

Gail brings more than two decades of experience in IT and educational technology, with deep hands-on work helping students develop confidence, creativity, and curiosity in STEM. She co-founded Robot Academy more than 20 years ago with a mission to inspire children through hands-on robotics and engineering.

Today, the company serves both educational institutions and families, providing innovative STEM programs, curriculum, laser cutters/engravers and educational robotics across central Ohio and nationwide. She founded the RAVE STEM Initiative to extend equitable access to hands-on STEM enrichment to students who have historically been left out.

She believes that building, problem-solving, and watching your work succeed in the real world is where lifelong curiosity takes root. Outside the Initiative, Gail is also co-founder of Tech Solutions Now, a Columbus-based cybersecurity and IT advisory firm she has helped lead since 2010. Gail’s desire is for RAVE STEM to train up the next generation of technology leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers.

Jane joins the board as a retired educator with almost three decades of working with underprivileged students and their families.

She has a keen sense of understanding neurodivergent students and what types of teaching and learning opportunities need to be presented to them The natural components of RAVE STEM — hands-on activities, decision-making, collaboration, questioning, and evaluation of design — are a place and space for these students to achieve confidence in their unique abilities and pride in what they have built. Jeanne joins the board as Treasurer.

A lifelong resident of New Jersey, she brings three decades of non-profit leadership in education, including service as Vice President at two NJ-based organizations — most recently a Before and After School Enrichment Program operating across 35 locations statewide. She is excited to work alongside Gail and to help bring RAVE STEM’s opportunities to a currently underserved population.

* Gail Vawter is also co-founder and owner of Robot Academy, LLC.

The RAVE STEM Initiative has adopted a written conflict-of-interest policy that (1) prohibits the Initiative from entering direct service contracts with Robot Academy, (2) prohibits any compensation to Mrs. Vawter from the Initiative, (3) requires Mrs. Vawter to recuse from any board decision specific to Robot Academy, and (4) permits Robot Academy to be listed as one of multiple eligible providers on the Initiative’s portable scholarship roster and resource guide.

The full conflict-of-interest policy is available upon This site is not affiliated with The LEGO® Group. All product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement Camps for kids ages 4 to 14 Get ready to ignite your child’s curiosity, spark their creativity, and fuel their passion for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. RAVE STEM has compiled Central Ohio’s best hands-on summer camp providers so you can find the right fit for your student.

LEGO robotics, LEGO drones, CAD/3D printing, and Video Game Design camps across Central Ohio. Kids (Grade PK–2, 3–8) build their own LEGO® robot, take it home and put it to work using the remote control or their own code. No experience necessary, 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio.

Locations: Powell, Worthington, Gahanna, Reynoldsburg, Pickerington, Burlington, Delaware, and Lewis Center Get ready to ignite your child’s curiosity, spark their creativity, and fuel their passion for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. When you enroll your child in our STEM summer camps, you’re placing them into an environment where they can flourish — AND have fun doing so!

Creative programs that complement STEM learning An introduction to the world of fashion. Do you have a passion for fashion? Do you like being creative?

How about having fun with friends while you make something awesome! www. futurefashionstars.

com Partnering with Robot Academy Since 2006, Robot Academy has introduced thousands of Columbus-area students to robotics through hands-on camps, afterschool programs, and online instruction. Explore LEGO® Robot, LEGO® Drone, CAD/3D printing, and Video Game Design camps and classes at www. Robot-Academy.

com . Summer camps in 8 locations including Lewis Center, Powell, Dublin, Upper Arlington, and Worthington. STEM Scholarships for Central Ohio Students RAVE STEM provides portable, need-based scholarships so students can attend hands-on STEM camps, classes, and programs at approved providers across Central Ohio.

Scholarships cover part or all of the cost and are awarded based on financial need and interest in STEM. Students in grades K–6 in the Central Ohio area Any student facing financial, geographic, or access barriers to STEM enrichment No minimum GPA or test score required To request a scholarship application, contact us directly.

Request a Scholarship Application School & Corporate Partnerships Working with schools and businesses to bring hands-on STEM to more students across Central Ohio. Bring Hands-On STEM to Your School RAVE STEM partners with schools across Central Ohio to bring robotics and hands-on STEM programming directly to students during the school day, after school, or as special enrichment events.

What a RAVE STEM school partnership looks like Curriculum-aligned robotics programs delivered on-site at your school Equipment, materials, and trained instructors provided Flexible scheduling: in-class enrichment, after-school clubs, or one-day events Free community events like LEGO Robot Wars where every student wins No cost to the school for scholarship-funded programs Schools currently using RAVE STEM-supported programming report increased student engagement, improved confidence in STEM subjects, and stronger participation from students who were previously disengaged.

Ready to bring STEM to your students? Let’s talk. Start a School Partnership Corporate & Business Partners Align your brand with the next generation of innovators.

RAVE STEM corporate partners help fund scholarships and school programs that put hands-on STEM learning in front of students across Central Ohio. Your support is visible, measurable, and tax-deductible (pending IRS determination).

Logo placement on RAVE STEM materials and website Recognition at RAVE STEM community events Direct connection to the schools and students your sponsorship supports A meaningful story your team and customers will care about Contact us to discuss partnership levels and opportunities.

Become a Corporate Partner Support STEM Access in Central Ohio Your donation helps fund scholarships, school partnerships, and community STEM programs for students who would otherwise go without. Every dollar goes toward putting real robots, real tools, and real learning into the hands of students who need it most.

RAVE STEM Initiative is an Ohio nonprofit corporation (charter #5603941) that has applied to the IRS for recognition of tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3). Pending receipt of the IRS determination letter, contributions are not yet confirmed as tax-deductible. To make a donation or discuss corporate sponsorship, please contact us directly.

Let’s talk about what’s possible. Whether you’re interested in school partnerships, scholarships, donating, or simply learning more — we’d love to hear from you.