The OSGC Pre-college program is designed to support innovative STEM projects utilizing NASA content through the teacher mini-grant program open to Ohio public/private K-12 schools and to provide teacher training. Individuals serving as Principal Investigators must be U.S. citizens. Collaborative proposals involving a combination of participants and ones that can be shared with other organizations are especially preferred. Funding is restricted to one year. Members of underrepresented minority groups, females, and persons with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

Program information and mini-grant applications are posted on the OSGC website (no submission deadlines), and may be submitted online, or mailed to the OSGC Main Office. Applications are reviewed and approved by the OSGC Director.

This project contributes to OSGC Goal 4, Increase STEM awareness for Ohio K-12 teachers and students. (SMART Objs. 4.1, 4.2). OSGCs Precollege programs further professional development for Ohio K-12 teachers; increase use of NASA-related materials in classroom instruction, increase comfort level in teaching STEM subjects, and increase proficiency in NASAs missions while exciting students to pursue STEM careers. The programs support the National SG Program goal to contribute to the Nations science enterprise and aligns with: NASAs Strat. Obj. 2.4; STEM Engagement LOB; Institutional Engagement LOB; Educator Professional Development LOB; API ED-18-2, 15-5; and ACRA CoSTEM Report Obj. 4, Pts. 1-2.

Mini-grants included:
Benjamin Logan Elementary School, Great Mathematical Minds; Benjamin Logan Elementary School, The Buzz About DronesâæFrom Coding to Liftoff; Benjamin Logan High School, Robotics and Design; Bishop Mussio Elementary, Expedition to Mars; Boyd E. Smith Elementary, Lego League JR WEDO2Education (Robotics and Coding); FIRST Buckeye Regional for 2018; Huron Public Schools, Exploring Laser Cutting with Models; McCormick Junior High, Huron, Coding Challenge ACCEPTED; Milford Exempted Village School District, Pattison Lego League; Pattison Elementary School, Milford, FIRST Lego League Team; Talawanda Schools, Space Camp; Waterville Primary School, Forging Ahead with Engineering and 3D Printing; STEM Night in Lucys Lab at Wright State University, Lake Campus Featuring Author Michelle Houts.

OSGC also offered a pre-service teacher workshop in collaboration with NASA Glenn for OSGC Education scholars at OAI. Participants received NASA education materials, professional development opportunities, curriculum modules for classroom use, and NASA resources for enhancing classroom teaching/student experiences. Students also participated in hands-on educational activities that can be replicated into a future lesson plan. Other teacher training included: support to iSPACE STEM Educators Academy.

Additional programs included: Cedarville University, supported students/faculty to attend National Science Teachers Association Conference; 2 summer camps for girls: Camp GEMS (Ohio Northern); Women in Engineering (U Dayton); FIRST Robotics (Buckeye Regional); K-12 Outreach component with HE SICHOP grants [Ohio Northern Pathways classroom visits to 3 Ada middle schools and Ohio Northern Engineering students worked on the Moon Buggy replica for The Armstrong Air and Space Museum and participates in various community outreach projects; Wright State-Thurgood Marshall HS, Dayton Public Schools (DPS), DPS Math/Science Olympiad, Math Counts; Miami U hosted Dater High School (Urban Cincinnati school) students for wind tunnel testing, and community outreach in Columbus City Schools (Ohio State)].

Continued support for Flight Camp (University of Cincinnati); Pathways Camp (Ohio Northern U); Miami/Talawanda Science Week activities (Miami U); The University of Akron Robotic Mining team public outreach: Girl Scouts Career Day, FIRST Lego League, Scholars Day, K-12 Women In Engineering; High School Programming Contest (Baldwin Wallace U).