For immediate release

Sept. 23, 2005

Contact Pam Joseph at (419) 995-8284

Dominion awards $4,600 grant to Ohio State Lima for STARLAB scholarships

Outreach program increases math and science awareness

The Ohio State University at Lima will be awarded a $4,600 grant from Dominion to support outreach to K-12 schools and community agencies increasing awareness in math and science at the Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce press conference on Monday, Sept. 26, 2005.

The grant provides scholarships for 75 classrooms to participate in STARLAB, Ohio State Lima’s portable planetarium that presents unique programming ranging from the solar system and constellations to mythology and weather.

Ohio State Lima will use the grant to target classrooms and audiences that may not have had the opportunity to participate in the program before in Allen, Auglaize, Hardin and Putnam counties. The scholarships will be awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis. Ten scholarships have already been awarded.

The STARLAB programs are aligned to curriculum for K-12 but can be adapted to almost any age group. They provide an introduction to astronomy and the world of science and mathematics.

The Dominion Foundation awarded $210,000 to 85 schools and educational organizations throughout a five-state area for the 2005-2006 school year. Successful grant proposals represent innovative and promising ideas, teach math and/or science skills, reach a significant number of students and demonstrate broad-based community support.

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers of energy and serves retail energy customers in nine states. Corporate headquarters are in Richmond, Va.

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