Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District and Rutland Town School win Educate Innovate Award

The Vermont Agency of Education and the Vermont Lottery have announced the recipients of the 2025 Educate Innovate Award. The Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District and Rutland Town School will each receive $15,000 to support educational technology programs aimed at improving student engagement and skills.

Wendy Knight, Commissioner of the Department of Liquor and Lottery, stated, “The Educate Innovate Award bring educators, students, and communities together to turn curiosity into action. When we invest in innovation, we invest in Vermont’s future.” The program is funded through a partnership between the Vermont Lottery, which is part of the Department of Liquor and Lottery, and the Agency of Education. In 2025, a record 15 proposals were submitted for consideration, representing a 36% increase from 2024. The funds are designated for purchasing technology and software that help students develop skills in data collection, evaluation, problem-solving, and teamwork.

Vermont Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders said, “The Educate Innovate Award empowers Vermont students to build the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow. By investing in technology that supports real-world problem-solving and collaborations, we’re preparing students not just for academic success, but for meaningful lives and careers in a rapidly changing world.”

The Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District includes four schools: Richford Elementary School, Richford Junior-Senior High School, Enosburg Elementary School, and Enosburg Falls Middle and High School. With their award funds, the district plans to acquire 3D printers, a 3D scanner, a computer numerical control (CNC) router, and computers for 3D modeling. These resources will be used to develop an advanced robotics lab and support a FIRST Robotics team. This team allows students to strengthen their problem-solving abilities while applying knowledge from mathematics, computer science, art, and design to practical projects. Participation in FIRST Robotics also provides opportunities for students to engage with peers internationally through competitions organized by this global nonprofit focused on promoting STEM careers.

Rutland Town School serves approximately 360 students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Their grant will fund sensor equipment and software for science classes across several grade levels. Students will use these tools to address real-world problems by collecting data—a practice aligned with International Standards for Technology Education (ISTE). Starting in sixth grade with experiments involving acceleration and velocity concepts as well as magnetic fields and position tracking, students will use data analysis to test hypotheses. Seventh graders will investigate temperature variations across environments by analyzing how heat-absorbing materials affect local climates. Eighth grade students will focus on photosynthesis experiments to better understand plant contributions to Earth’s energy cycles.

Both organizations emphasized the essential role teachers play in implementing these programs. They also recognized all educators who submitted proposals this year. Applications for the next round of awards are expected to open in mid-spring on the Agency of Education website.