The $50,000 award from the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville supports HudsonAlpha’s partnership with nonprofits across North Alabama to increase access to STEM after-school programs

A student’s early experience with STEM can make or break their interest in pursuing a STEM career later in life. This is even more true for children from underrepresented backgrounds or rural areas who face economic or geographic barriers to access quality STEM education.

According to the Alabama STEM Council, only 27 percent of children across the state tested at or above grade level in math in 2022, and just 37 percent were considered proficient in science. Of those students, only 23 percent of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds tested as proficient in science, while only 24 percent of Hispanic/Latino and 18 percent of Black students were considered at grade level proficiency. 

Studies have shown that enrolling in after-school programs can help reverse deficiencies in our state’s STEM proficiency levels. The Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville’s Compass Society Award makes it possible for HudsonAlpha to bring after-school STEM programming to the North Alabama communities who can benefit from it the most by supporting the Institute’s new Genetic Explorers program.

“The generous funds provided by the Compass Society will enable HudsonAlpha to develop and deliver content for an audience hungry for hands-on biotech activities,” said Dasi Price, Director of Student Experiences in HudsonAlpha’s Educational Outreach team. “I believe the Genetic Explorers program will ignite a lasting passion for science and the curiosity connected to learning.”

Genetic Explorers presents the basics of genetics and genomics to rising third through rising fifth graders through hands-on educational activity kits, HudsonAlpha-developed videos, and digital and printed lesson plans for educators.

Once the program launches this spring, Genetic Explorers will be hosted at nonprofits across North Alabama that serve the region’s underrepresented and disadvantaged youth, such as Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama and more.

The Community Foundation’s Compass Society supports high impact projects taking place across Huntsville that have a profound and lasting impact on our community’s well-being. By combining gifts of cash with an endowed fund, the Compass Society provides funding for projects today and in the future. 

“HudsonAlpha is a recognized leader in STEM education. The Community Foundation is proud to provide funding for the Genetic Explorers program to take STEM education opportunities directly to the students who will be the next-generation scientists, doctors, and engineers,” said Melissa Thompson, CEO/President of the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville.