Toyota Revvs Up K-12 Science Education With Nearly $500,000 in Teaching Grants

    ST. LOUIS, March 22 Former astronaut Buzz Aldrin wasn't
the only one over the moon today at the National Science Teachers Association
(NSTA) annual convention.  Fifty science teachers also walked on air when they
received grants totaling nearly $500,000 from Toyota Motor Sales (TMS),
U.S.A., Inc. at the convention in St. Louis, where Aldrin was a keynote
speaker.
    Now in its eleventh year, Toyota TAPESTRY is the largest K-12 science
teacher grant program in the country, providing grants of up to $10,000 each
for innovative programs designed for the classroom.  Since its inception,
TAPESTRY has awarded nearly $4.5 million to 443 teams of teachers in all
50 states, including the District of Columbia, as well as the U.S. territories
of the Virgin Islands and Northern Mariana Islands.

    A look at this year's winning programs reveals some interesting trends:

    -- Montana's wildfires of 2000 were the catalyst for three of four winning
       Montana proposals.  These programs will investigate wildfire & weeds as
       well as vegetation regeneration.  Interestingly, after fires ravaged
       Southern California in 1996, two winning programs from Carlsbad,
       Calif., addressed the blazes the following year.

    -- Energy problems are plaguing the country.  Alternative sources of
       energy, from plasma to retaining ponds to soybeans, are the topics of
       four TAPESTRY programs.

    -- Native American issues emerged as the foundation for two programs: the
       first addresses low-water vegetation for landscaping on reservation
       land of the Western Navajo Nation and a second proposes a study of
       Native American DNA in Oklahoma.

    -- Sports are the foundation of three grant programs: archery and scuba
       diving (both in Texas) and baseball (Oklahoma).

    -- Are digital cameras the new "it" device for primary school science
       programs?  Digital cameras turned up as line items on 14 program
       budgets this year.

    -- Safety first.  We hear a lot about cell phones and airbags and their
       impact on driving safety, but what ever happened to the good old
       seatbelt?  Inspired by a student death, one Los Angeles teacher's
       program will study the impact of seatbelts with hand-crafted
       "crash dummies."

    "Toyota is a company founded in science innovation," says Irv Miller, TMS
group vice president of external affairs.  "Since excitement is one of the
keys to innovative thinking, we're extremely proud to recognize and support
these teachers whose projects will help hundreds of students nationwide make a
passionate connection with science.  We hope that participation in the
TAPESTRY program will be the catalyst for a lifetime of creativity and science
exploration."
    Research conducted in 1998 by the Evaluation and Training Institute (ETI),
a California-based research organization, showed that the TAPESTRY program
helped improve students' long-term interest in science and teachers'
enthusiasm and teaching abilities, as well as the communities' interest in
science education at their schools.  Attention for TAPESTRY also comes at a
time when education is at the forefront of the President's national budget
plan.  In his remarks to Congress on Feb. 27, President Bush stated, "The
highest percentage increase in our budget should go to our children's
education.  Education is my top priority."  He went on to say, "We've
increased funding to train and recruit teachers, because we know a good
education starts with a good teacher."
    "Toyota TAPESTRY is just the kind of program that our teachers need to
take science education in America to the next level," explains Arthur
Eisenkraft, president of NSTA.  "TAPESTRY is an invaluable resource for and
investment in our teachers, our children and our communities."
    TAPESTRY awardees are treated to a four-day, all-expense-paid trip to
St. Louis for the NSTA national convention, where the grants are presented
during a dinner reception.  Former TAPESTRY awardee John Jackson also spoke
during the ceremony.  Jackson is founder of Project EARTH (Environmental
Awareness Research Through Hands-On Activities) and the recipient of several
distinguished awards, including an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator
Fellowship, a California Legislative Assembly Certificate of Recognition and
the Educators Unsung Heroes Award.  Jackson epitomizes the kind of committed
teacher that Toyota supports through its TAPESTRY program.

    About Toyota's Education Programs
    In addition to sponsoring a number of nonprofit educational organizations,
TMS offers four major programs that support teachers with grants and students
with scholarships: TAPESTRY for K-12 science teachers; TIME for K-12 math
teachers; the Toyota International Teacher Program, a two-week study abroad
program in Japan for 50 high school teachers; and Toyota Community Scholars,
providing 100 scholarships to high school seniors based on academics and
community service.  In 2000, Toyota USA contributed nearly $22 million to U.S.
charities, with nearly 70% funding education.  For more information about
Toyota education programs, visit http://www.toyota.com/about or call Rhonda Glasscock
at 310.468.4119.

    About NSTA
    Founded in 1944, the Arlington, Va.-based National Science Teachers
Association promotes excellence and innovation in science teaching and
learning for all.  Its 53,000-plus members include science teachers of all
grade levels, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and
industry representatives, and others involved in science education.  For more
information about NSTA, visit http://www.nsta.org or contact Eric Crossley at
703.312.9258 or Cindy Workosky at 703.312.9248 and cworkosky@nsta.org.