Empowering Future Innovators Through STEM

June 2, 2026

At Horace Mann, we believe every student deserves opportunities to explore, create and innovate.

Through a $2,500 EmpowerED Grant from the Horace Mann Educators Foundation, Gregg Middle School in Dorchester School District Two in Summerville, South Carolina, expanded hands-on STEM learning opportunities with the addition of a new 3D printer, filament and an equipment cart. Students recently put those resources to work during the school's STEM Day, where they designed and printed original creations, built VEX Robotics vehicles, tested engineering concepts and explored problem-solving through interactive challenges.

The grant, awarded through a partnership between the Horace Mann Educators Foundation and the Dorchester Two Educational Foundation, demonstrates how community partnerships can help bring innovative learning experiences directly to students.

Horace Mann agent Stephanie Rankin nominated the school for the Horace Mann Educators Foundation’s EmpowerED grant program, which awarded $2,500 grants to 20 education-related organizations in 2025.