South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

We promote and protect the health of the public and the environment.

• Council on Coastal Futures
• Clean Marina
• Marine Debris
• Water Quality
• Applied Technology
• Grant Opportunities
• In Your Community
• Workshops

Grant Opportunities

Donna Bates Memorial Award

DHEC's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management in partnership with the Center for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE South East) is accepting applications for this year's Donna Bates Memorial Grant Award. This award was established in 1996 in an effort to encourage improvement and support of coastal science and coastal environmental instructions in the 8 coastal counties of South Carolina. All public schools (K-12) in the eight coastal counties are invited to apply! The award will be presented to the public school(s) with the proposal for program improvement which has been determined by a review Committee to best serve the educational opportunities of the school's students and best serve the goal of improving learning opportunities for coastal science and the coastal environment in public schools. 2010 Award Information will be available in fall 2009.

Donna Bates in 1994 This award is made in memory of Donna Bates, Public Education and Information Specialist with OCRM who passed away suddenly in 1995. Her devotion and enthusiasm for this work touched many students and her work will hopefully have a lasting impact upon their appreciation for the unique resources found in the coastal area.

Grant Requirements and Information

• Application must be complete and signed by both the sponsoring teacher and principal of the school.
• Applications must include the Curriculum Vita (CV) of teacher/staff who will conduct program or oversee the use of award funds
• Application must include a letter of support from the school's principal.
• Deadline for application is November 1.
• DHEC-OCRM will make one annual award of up to $2,000. It is possible that two schools could share this award based on project merits
• Proposals will be reviewed by a committee made up of COSEE and OCRM staff. A decision will be announced in December of each year. Funding will be made available in January of the following year.
• The award must be expended by June 30 and a final report will be due no later than August 1.
• DHEC-OCRM will enter into a contractual agreement with the selected school(s) identifying the activities, products, and/or facilities to be funded through this grant. The Award will be a direct reimbursement of costs associated with specified program activities. Invoices and receipts will be required.
• Funding expenditures can provide for items such as supplementary print, or other media resources, to enhance existing curriculum, teacher professional development programs, presentations by specialists/scientists, equipment, exhibits, improvement to facilities, development of special courses at the school or educational field trips to coastal sites.

DHEC-OCRM staff will be available to provide logistical support with the project if desired by the school(s).

For more information, contact Dan Burger at OCRM, 843-953-0251 or burgerdj@dhec.sc.gov.

2009 Grant Award

DHEC-OCRM is pleased to announce that James Island Middle School has been awarded the 2008 Donna Bates Memorial Award for their "Trash Hurts" program. Based on community surveys and observations, students identified litter from vehicles as a priority local environmental issue. This grant will allow students to address litter at the source by developing an easy way for people to collect and dispose of trash in their cars. Students will design and produce trash receptacle bags that hang from the back of vehicle seats. The bags will be distributed along with anti-litter information at community education events and school programs. Participating students will also present their project at the Lowcountry’s Youth Environmental Summit in May. Students will also research the impacts of litter on wildlife and the water cycle, and receive a presentation from the Charleston Center for Birds of Prey.

Previous Award Winners

.