Some students at Choctawhatchee High School did not recognize their own classroom when they walked through the doors on Tuesday.
"I just feel like it brings up a lot of positive emotions for me, to be in this updated room, because I just love aviation," said Cadet Lt. Col. Lillian Moellenbrink, senior at Choctawhatchee High School.
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) joined the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation and the Okaloosa County School District to celebrate the completion of the STEM Classroom Makeover at Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach.
The $50,000 grant from FPL allowed Choctawhatchee High School to incorporate cutting-edge technology, including a brand-new aerospace lab and a flight simulator to create an immersive learning experience. The redesigned classroom now boasts new STEM technology to help enhance student engagement and foster creativity.
"With FPL's grant money, we turned a first-class facility into a world-class facility," said Lt. Col. Eric Lazenby, senior aerospace science instructor at Choctawhatchee High School. "I have never seen anything like this in a high school before."
To mark this significant milestone, the partners hosted a ceremony at Choctawhatchee High School to showcase the transformed classroom and witness the positive impact of education in the lives of local students.
"We firmly believe in the power of education and the difference it can make in the lives of our youth," said J.T. Young, Vice President and General Manager of Northwest Florida for FPL. "We are thrilled to help create a dynamic learning atmosphere for the students of Choctawhatchee High School. This classroom transformation represents our ongoing commitment to support education and provide students with the tools they need to thrive."
“We are incredibly grateful to Florida Power & Light Company and the NextEra Energy Foundation for their generous support of our aerospace education program at Choctawhatchee High School through the $50,000 classroom makeover grant,” stated Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “This is more than just a simulator; it’s a gateway to high-skill, high-demand careers and a powerful example of how public-private partnerships can transform student outcomes. Thank you, FPL, for helping us create meaningful pathways to success for our students.”
FPL’s STEM Classroom Makeover Grant program, now in its fifth year, provides $50,000 grants for eligible Florida schools to provide transformational learning opportunities in economically disadvantaged K-12 classrooms. Funds are available to address needs in technology or resources that will advance STEM curricula, exposure and careers to diverse students in a classroom setting.
Applications for FPL's STEM Classroom Makeover Grant for the 2025-26 school year open Sept. 30. To apply or learn more, please visit www.FPL.com/Education.
About Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is America’s largest electric utility, delivering reliable power to more than 6 million customer accounts — serving approximately 12 million people across Florida. By leveraging a diverse energy mix, including nuclear, natural gas, solar and battery storage, FPL operates one of the most fuel- and cost-efficient power generation fleets in the U.S. and has earned the ReliabilityOne® National Reliability Award for seven of the last ten years. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), which is one of the largest electric power and energy infrastructure companies in North America and is a leading provider of electricity to American homes and businesses. NextEra Energy is also the parent company of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is advancing America’s energy future with one of the largest and most diverse portfolios of power generation and infrastructure solutions. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.
Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach was one of 20 schools to receive Florida Power & Light Company’s $50,000 STEM Classroom Makeover Grant for the 2024-25 school year. On Tuesday, Sept. 23, the school unveiled its updated classroom, which included a brand-new flight simulator.
J.T. Young, vice president and general manager of Northwest Florida for Florida Power & Light Company, tests out the brand-new flight simulator at Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach on Tuesday, Sept. 23. The high school was one of 20 schools to receive Florida Power & Light Company’s $50,000 STEM Classroom Makeover Grant for the 2024-25 school year.
Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach was one of 20 schools to receive Florida Power & Light Company’s $50,000 STEM Classroom Makeover Grant for the 2024-25 school year. On Tuesday, Sept. 23, the school unveiled its updated classroom, which included a brand-new flight simulator.
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