---

Toyota Awards Science Teachers Across the Nation With $500,000

25 March 1999

Toyota Awards Science Teachers Across the Nation With Nearly $500,000 in Teaching Grants

    BOSTON, March 25 -- In an effort to keep students interested
in science -- and in learning -- nearly $500,000 in Toyota TAPESTRY teaching
grants were distributed in Boston today.
    Funded by Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., and administered by the
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the grants were designed to
enhance the teaching of science in the areas of environmental education or
physical science.
    This year, grants were awarded to science teachers from grades K-12 from
27 states.
    The largest K-12 science teacher grant program in the country, Toyota
TAPESTRY is now in its ninth year and has awarded nearly $3.5 million to
343 teams of teachers in 47 states, as well as the District of Columbia.
    "The Toyota TAPESTRY program continues to empower America's students
through the financial support we provide their teachers," said Jim Olson, TMS
senior vice president of external affairs.  "We're confident that using
creative teaching methods in the classroom will ensure another generation of
science-loving students."
    "The Toyota TAPESTRY program makes it possible for teachers to create and
implement innovative science projects for their students," said Gerry Wheeler,
executive director of NSTA.  "The program provides the resources needed for
students to participate in hands-on, community-based projects."
    Grant recipients for 1999 were selected from a field of more than
800 applicants by a panel of science education experts.  Winning teachers were
treated to an all-expense-paid trip to NSTA's national convention in Boston,
where the grants were awarded.
    NSTA, headquartered in Arlington, Va., is dedicated to improving science
education at all levels.  Its 50,000-plus membership includes science
teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and
industry representatives.
    Toyota TAPESTRY grants are one element of Toyota's corporate contributions
program, which comprises kindergarten through 12th-grade education, family
literacy, technical training and higher education.  In 1998, Toyota
contributed more than $14 million to U.S. charities, with more than 50 percent
funding education.