DID YOU KNOW? for September 3 – 16, 2024

Did you know that PLATO's Education Fund supports the UW Odyssey Project? This award-winning UW-Madison program takes a whole family approach to breaking the cycle of generational poverty through access to education, giving adult and youth learners a voice, and increasing confidence through reading, writing, and speaking. Learn more about how the UW Odyssey Project is overcoming adversity and achieving dreams through higher education and about PLATO's Education Fund through the links below.

Learn more about UW Odyssey Project.

Learn more about PLATO'S Education Fund.

DID YOU KNOW? for August 13 – September 2, 2024

Warren M. Washington (b. 1936), the second African-American to earn a doctorate in the atmospheric sciences, received the highest scientific honor bestowed by the U.S. President, the National Medal of Science, for his fundamental contributions to the understanding of Earth's coupled climate system through numerical simulation, leadership in U.S. science policy, and inspiring mentorship of young people of all backgrounds and origins.

Learn more about Warren M. Washington.

DID YOU KNOW? for July 30 – August 12, 2024 

Did you know that one of the local community programs that PLATO's Education Fund supports is Maydm? PLATO's annual donation supports Maydm's ability to host immersive after school programs and workshops designed to enhance the STEM skills of middle and high school students in Madison, WI. Maydm equips students with the skills, confidence, and opportunities they need to succeed in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics making strides toward a more inclusive and innovative STEM field. 

Learn more about Maydm and PLATO's Education Fund.

DID YOU KNOW? for July 16 – 29, 2024 

Otis F. Boykin (August 29, 1920 – 1982) was an African American inventor who specialized in electronics. Earning more than 25 patents from 1959 to 1985, variations of his resistor models are still used today in televisions, computers, and radios. Boykin's most notable contribution was the development of control functions for the first successful, implantable pacemaker. 

Learn more about Otis F. Boykin.

DID YOU KNOW? for July 2 – 15, 2024 

One of the local community programs that PLATO's Education Fund supports is the Lussier Community Education Center. PLATO's annual donation supports educational programming for elementary and middle school students to help prepare them for success.

Learn more about the Lussier Community Education Center. Learn more about PLATO's Education Fund.

DID YOU KNOW? for June 18 – July 1, 2024 

Marian Croak, a black woman in the engineering group at Google who has filed more than 200 patents, is best known for developing Voice Over Internet Protocols (VoIP). This technology converts a person’s voice into a digital signal which allows one to make a call directly from a computer or another digital device. Croak became one of the first Black women to be inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame. 

Learn more about Marian Croak.

DID YOU KNOW? for June 4 – 17, 2024 

PLATO's Education Fund provides four annual partial scholarships for returning UW adult students. Administered through the UW-Madison Division of Continuing Studies, these scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis and targeted toward single-parent students and other nontraditional adult returnees. Financial need and academic potential are critical components in determining the awards.

Learn more about this program and PLATO's Education Fund.

DID YOU KNOW? for May 21 – June 3, 2024 

Garrett Morgan (March 4, 1877 – July 27, 1963) was a prolific inventor who called himself the “Black Edison.” Morgan devised early versions of the traffic light and gas mask. His career began as a sewing-machine mechanic and he would eventually invent a more sophisticated sewing machine which he patented, among other inventions. 

Learn more about Garrett Morgan at:  https://www.biography.com/inventors/garrett-morgan

DID YOU KNOW? for April 30 – May 20, 2024 

Did you know that one of the local community programs that PLATO's Education Fund supports is CLIMB USA? PLATO's annual donation supports expanding the participation of Madison Area Students in The CLIMB Youth Leadership and Summer Stock Market Experience Programs.

CLIMB USA’s mission is to help teens and young adults improve their financial capability through education and capital market engagement.

CLIMB USA is developing a community of youth and families that are  learning new ways of thinking about economics through a focus on youth development, building wealth through investment clubs, entrepreneurial training, and thought leadership.

Learn more about CLIMB USA.

Learn more about PLATO's Education Fund and how to donate.

DID YOU KNOW? for April 16 – 29, 2024 

Nina Simone (February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003) was born to black parents in North Carolina during the Jim Crow era. Simone was a piano prodigy who performed classical concerts by age 12 at which her parents were forced to sit in the rear of the theater to make space for white patrons. However, she refused to play until they were allowed to sit up front. Simone studied at Julliard School of Music and recorded the first of more than 40 albums in 1959. The Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and pianist was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Simone was ranked No. 21 on Rolling Stones’ list of 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Learn More about Nina Simone:

NinaSimone.com
Nina Simone on Wikipedia.com