The broadband communications provider Sparklight provides a grant to an Independence Educational group to help empower students with hands-on STEM education and promote innovation in classrooms.

Sparklight has awarded a $2,500 STEM grant to Life Skills Academy in Independence through its annual “Dream Bigger” initiative. The funding will be used to support middle school student innovation projects focused on engineering, prototyping and applied design. Since its launch in 2019, Sparklight’s “Dream Bigger” initiative has awarded more than $200,000 in grants to support STEM education and expand access to innovative learning opportunities for K?12 students. In 2026, 12 schools and organizations across Sparklight’s 24-state area were selected to receive funding for impactful, student-focused projects.

Life Skills Academy is a hands-on learning organization with the purpose of increasing student like skills, encouraging entrepreneurial exploration, and helping young people find career direction.