Overview:
Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative (CWEC) values education and training and understands that classrooms may have limited funding to pursue the projects needed to educate the young minds in our local communities. By embracing cooperative principle #5 Education, Training and Information, we are able to extend our resources to support STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) projects and initiatives.
Guidelines:
Funding is available for public, public charter, private, and home schools in our service area for classrooms with students K-12. The classroom project must be academically focused in the areas of science, technology, engineering, art, or math. The grant may be used to purchase equipment or curriculum materials and should be part of a well-planned and integrated project or activity. Instructors may apply for a STEAM grant up to $1,000 per school district, per academic year. Home schools are allowed to receive up to $100 per home school, per academic year.
Grant Eligibility:
Public Schools – Bowler, Iola-Scandinavia, Rosholt, Tigerton, and Wittenberg-Birnamwood. Public Charter, Private, and Home Schools – Must be within the Townships CWEC serves. Click here for a listing of the eligible Townships or call our office.
Applications will be reviewed by the CWEC Operation Round Up Board at its quarterly meetings to be sure they meet the qualifications.
The deadline to apply each quarter is as follows:
- January 1
- April 1
- July 1
- October 1
Requirements:
Please ensure that all forms are filled in completely before forwarding to us. Incomplete applications will not be submitted for consideration. Applications should be submitted 4-6 weeks prior to the date of anticipated need. Applicants agree that their name, photo, and the project may be used for any marketing purposes at Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative.
Examples of projects that would NOT be considered for funding:
Travel expenses, field trips, guest speakers, entry fees, t-shirts or other promotional items/prizes, and meals. If you are seeking funding for a project and think that the STEAM grant might not be the right place to apply, visit our Operation Round-Up page to see if you qualify for funding.
Applications:
Click here to complete and submit the application online
If you prefer to submit a paper copy send the completed application and any other pertinent materials by mail to:
Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative
Attention: STEAM Grant
P.O. Box 100
Rosholt, WI 54473
For more information about the program, please contact Brenda Mazemke at brenda.mazemke@cwecoop.com or (800) 377-2932.
Recipients of the STEAM Grant are listed below:
2024-2025 School Year
- Bowler School District: $900; Calculators and miscellaneous classroom supplies for math and science classes
- Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District: $1,000; Materials for workshop exploring electromagnetism for middle school students
- Rosholt School District: $1,000; Material for K-8th Grade Math Intervention
2023-2024 School Year
- Bowler School District: $400; 10 Electronic Balance Scales for Middle & High School
- Rosholt School District: $500; Rocket Kits for 4th Grade Class
- Bowler School District: $500; STEAM Bins for First-Grade Students
2022-2023 School Year
- Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District: $1,000; Urban Search & Rescue Robot
- Tigerton School District: $1,000; Supplies to Build an Energy Bike
- Bowler School District: $551; Super-Mileage Vehicle Project
- Bowler School District: $448; Material to Build STEAM Morning Tubs for 1st Grade Students
- Rosholt School District: $1,000; Making Minds Project for students in Pre-K through 6th Grade
- Iola-Scandinavia School District: $1,000; Smraza Electronics Kits for High School Technology Class
BOWLER SCHOOL DISTRICT RECEIVES $900 STEAM GRANT
May 2025 - The Bowler School District has received a $900 STEAM grant from Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative (CWEC) to be used for purchasing calculators to be used by middle and high school students for science and math classes.
Kathleen Hansen, high school science teacher in the Bowler School District, said many students in the district do not have their own calculator.
“A lot of times it’s on the teachers to provide the calculator for the class,” Hansen said. “This way, everyone has one available. We’re not scrambling around looking for a calculator that actually works.”
The funds will be used to purchase 100 calculators, as well as miscellaneous paper supplies to be used by the science and math classes. The calculators to be purchased will be more advanced than a basic four-function calculator, but won’t be a highly-advance calculator. They will be used in the following classes: 7th and 8th grade math, pre-algebra, integrated math, biology, ecology, chemistry, physics, and science for grades 7-9.
“We’re in the technology age and we have to learn how to use it, so this will be helpful,” said Tracy Laude, middle school and high school science teacher in the Bowler School District.
Even though there will be calculators available for students to use, Laude said the district will continue to teach manual methods for solving problems, such as mental math, measurement with a ruler, and reading a thermometer.
“By combining traditional hands-on activities with modern tools, students can develop a more well-rounded skill set,” Laude said.
The calculators will be available to be used by students in grades 7 through 12, and will be used for multiple years.
Without the grant, both Hansen and Laude said not as many calculators would have been able to be purchased at this time.
“We really, really appreciate it,” Laude said. “It really means a lot when people from the outside help us.”
Hansen added, “I’m glad that we were made aware of this (STEAM grants), because I was not aware of this until last year.”