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June 15, 2026

Cradle of Aviation Museum Receives $22,000 STEM Grant for Uniondale Students, Supported by The New York Community Trust

Uniondale middle school students participating in Aerospace Futures Lab, an after-school STEM program at the Cradle of Aviation Museum supported by The New York Community Trust

The Cradle of Aviation Museum has been awarded a $22,000 grant fr om the New York Community Trust to support 
June 15, 2026

The Cradle of Aviation Museum has been awarded a $22,000 grant from The New York Community Trust to support Aerospace Futures Lab, an after-school STEM enrichment program for middle school students in the Uniondale Union Free School District.

The program served 50 students in grades 7 and 8 through weekly 90-minute sessions, organized into two cohorts over a 10-week period. Designed as a hands-on learning experience, the program connected classroom STEM concepts to real-world applications through interactive lessons and activities at the Museum.

Students explored topics such as drone delivery, wind turbines, robotics in medicine, and space exploration, introducing them to emerging technologies and potential STEM career pathways.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Monique Darrisaw-Akil noted that programs like this provide students with meaningful exposure to real-world STEM applications while supporting academic growth, college readiness, and future career opportunities.

Program goals included:

  • Introducing students to STEM career pathways across the region
  • Building foundational knowledge in STEM and emerging technologies
  • Engaging students through hands-on, interactive learning
  • Strengthening critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills

Aerospace Futures Lab provided Uniondale students with the opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom through hands-on, career-connected STEM experiences at the Museum.

About the Cradle of Aviation Museum

Located on Museum Row in Garden City, the Cradle of Aviation Museum preserves Long Island’s aerospace heritage while engaging future generations through STEM education. The Museum features more than 75 air and spacecraft spanning more than 100 years of aviation history and is home to Long Island’s only Giant Screen Dome Theater—the Catholic Health Sky Theater Planetarium.

About The New York Community Trust

The New York Community Trust is the community foundation for New York City, Long Island, and Westchester. It supports nonprofit organizations through grants that improve the lives of New Yorkers and strengthen communities across the region.

 

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