SAE Foundation announced today a four-year, $1.5-million grant to launch a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education programming initiative in Nevada schools. The grant is part of Tesla’s $37.5-million investment in Nevada’s K-12 STEM and sustainability education.

SAE International and Tesla will work together to impact up to 25,000 kindergarten through eighth grade students in Nevada by implementing SAE’s A World In Motion (AWIM) STEM Program. The hands-on and innovative AWIM program will be introduced in classrooms across the state and provide students with access to mobility industry professionals and students who are pursuing more advanced studies.

Benchmarked to national standards, SAE’s AWIM program is a teacher-administered, industry volunteer-assisted program that incorporates STEM learning experiences through hands-on activities and challenges that reinforce classroom STEM learning.

AWIM supports Tesla’s K-12 STEM education pipeline through customizable programming that complements the structured programming of specific school districts to provide in-class, STEM exposure during each phase of education (grades K-3, 4-6 and 6-8). Additionally, where possible, programming will be integrated within districts and schools that feed into high schools that have active robotics teams supported by Tesla.

SAE will serve as a liaison between Tesla and participating schools, coordinating all program activities, including teacher and volunteer training, program implementation and teacher and volunteer support throughout the program. SAE and Tesla’s collaboration also includes plans to engage Formula SAE Electric students from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the University of Nevada, Reno through SAE’s AWIM LearnTwice, a program that places university and high school students in classrooms as volunteers and mentors.

The goal of the SAE-Tesla partnership is to reach up to 5,000 students in the first year of program implementation, increasing annually to almost 8,000 students per year in year four.