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To learn more about the Carlsbad Education Foundation, visit their website at http://www.carlsbaded.org/ .  You will also find information on their website about their Kid's Care before and after school program.

The Beckman Coulter Foundation Provides a Partial Grant to Help Fund Participation at Each Middle and High School in Carlsbad Unified School District

Carlsbad, CA – Carlsbad Educational Foundation (CEF), a non-profit organization devoted to developing and launching educational and enrichment programs for more than 10,000 Carlsbad students, is proud to announce support for Science Olympiad at all three middle schools and Carlsbad High School during the 2009-2010 school year. Science Olympiad is an international program designed to engage students in grades 6 through 12 in team-based scientific learning and problem-solving.

This program, which reinforces one of CEF’s overarching goals to enrich education through increased hands-on science, is being made possible by a generous grant from the Beckman Coulter Foundation.  Through this grant, CEF is able to sponsor 10 teams across the three middle schools. The grant helps to cover the costs associated with registration fees, competition-related supplies and a coaching stipend for the lead coach at each school.

“The Carlsbad Educational Foundation is delighted to partner with the Beckman Coulter Foundation to support the Science Olympiad program,” said Valin Brown, CEO of the Carlsbad Educational Foundation. “Science Olympiad competitions are like academic track meets.  The events are challenging and well balanced between the science disciplines. With 23 events to choose from, students can find a subject that interests and excites them to go above and beyond what they learn in the classroom during the school day.”

Each Science Olympiad team will have the opportunity to compete in a variety of challenges throughout the school year. Every event requires teamwork, group planning and cooperation in addition to mastering the academic subject matter. The goal is to elevate science learning as a team competition to a level of enthusiasm and support that is normally reserved only for sports programs.

“The Beckman Coulter Foundation is very pleased to support this program, which offers Carlsbad students an opportunity to apply and enjoy science as they tackle tough, real-world problems,” said Cathy Dougherty, Grant Director of the Beckman Coulter Foundation. “The Beckman Coulter Foundation is dedicated to supporting programs which are focused around science, science education and research-related healthcare.  In particular, Science Olympiad is an innovative way to engage our children in the sciences while preparing them for successful careers in the future,” adds Dougherty.

In 2008, the Carlsbad Charitable Foundation provided the inaugural grant to expand the Science Olympiad program at Valley Middle School to all three Carlsbad-based middle schools. Funding from this grant helped build the core infrastructure, reference materials and training for the growing program.

The goal of the Science Olympiad is to create a passion for learning science and recognize high levels of academic achievement by motivated students in an exciting and challenging extra-curricular enrichment program. For the past 26 years, Science Olympiad has led a revolution in science education. What began as a grassroots assembly of science teachers now is one of the premiere science competitions in the nation, providing rigorous, standards-based challenges to more than 5,700 teams in 48 states.

About the Beckman Coulter Foundation

The Beckman Coulter Foundation is a charitable organization established by Beckman Coulter, Inc.  Its mission is to fulfill and support Beckman Coulter’s philanthropic goals.

The Beckman Coulter Foundation is a separate, private foundation established in 2007 as an important part of Beckman Coulter, Inc’s charitable giving efforts.  The Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of Beckman Coulter, Inc. by funding programs which are focused around science, science education and healthcare-related research that improves patient health and the quality of life.

About the Carlsbad Educational Foundation

The Carlsbad Educational Foundation (CEF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that was founded in 1983 to raise private support for public education and the enrichment of more than 10,000 students in the Carlsbad Unified School District. CEF develops, conducts and finances innovative, quality educational programs and projects. Since its inception, the foundation has contributed more than $4 million in funds to Carlsbad schools, primarily for science, technology, arts and reading. In 2008, the foundation provided year-end grants totaling $604,000 to help restore funding for the preservation of the arts, music, sports and libraries within the district. The foundation has finalized an ambitious strategic plan that will support the development of additional music, science and innovative educational programs. The foundation also operates a Summer Enrichment Program as well as Kids’ Care, a comprehensive before- and after-school childcare program. For more information, visit www.carlsbaded.org.