NFPA Education and Technology Foundation launches Challenge Grant Program

July 5, 2011 - PRLog -- The NFPA Education and Technology Foundation has launched a new Challenge Grant Program to award grants to schools and educational institutions. Awards will be given to help teachers introduce and teach fluid power in the classroom, with the eventual goal of entering teams in, or holding their own, NFPA Fluid Power Challenge events. The Fluid Power Challenge is a skills competition that invites middle school students to solve an engineering problem using hydraulics and pneumatics.

Two types of grants will be awarded, for: Challenge classroom exercise kits (such as lifter, rotational arm, clamp), or component parts; and for Challenge event kits (or program materials) for use in Challenge events.

Any school, college, university or educational organization may submit an application at any time during the calendar year, and applications will be reviewed on an on-going basis.

Applicants are required to submit information such as description of the type of materials requested, type of class, activity, or Fluid Power Challenge event they will be used in, class size and grade level. Once grants are awarded, follow-up reports, photos, videos and testimonials will be published on the Foundation’s web site at www.nfpafoundation.org.

For further information, contact Carrie Tatman Schwartz, Education Program Manager, at 414-778-3347 or ctschwartz@nfpa.com.

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NFPA provides a forum for the fluid power industry’s channel partners—manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, customers and educators. Its 335+ U.S. and multinational members work cooperatively in advancing hydraulic and pneumatic technology through the association’s many programs and initiatives. The NFPA Education and Technology Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization that supports educational programs and research in fluid power.