The University of West Florida (UWF) has received $10,000 from The PBSJ Foundation, Inc., to support the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Youth program. The grant application was championed by employees of PBS&J and Peter R. Brown Construction, Inc., subsidiary companies of The PBSJ Corporation.

LEED for Youth is a UWF outreach program geared toward kindergarten through 12th grade students with the goal of promoting hands-on education to help foster a mindset of higher learning. The program will incorporate real-world science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts through field trips, lesson plans, and summer camps.

This money is already being implemented through a UWF summer camp currently in session called Construct This! under the direction of Glenda Mayo, UWF Building Construction program coordinator, who is leading the efforts related to LEED for Youth. This is a one-week camp for 1-6 graders where they build projects and learn about careers in construction, math lessons, and plan design.

Through LEED for Youth, UWF strives to raise environmental awareness and promote STEM-related careers among future members of the work force. “This complements PBS&J and Peter Brown’s goals as well,” states Vice President Jeff Helms of PBS&J’s Pensacola office. “We are delighted to be able to support such an important asset to our community and profession.”