Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE – Jefferson STEM Elementary School has been awarded the 2025 Basic Water Monitoring Equipment Package from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) through the Hoosier Riverwatch program.
This grant award recognizes Jefferson’s continued commitment to environmental education and hands-on STEM learning. The new equipment will support students and staff as they expand their ongoing water quality monitoring efforts at Cherry Creek, which is a long-standing project in partnership with The Watershed Foundation and local environmental experts, according to a news release from Warsaw Community Schools.
Chuck Harvuot, a certified Hoosier Riverwatch Volunteer Monitor and Master Naturalist, completed his Riverwatch training in 2012 and leads Jefferson’s water monitoring program. Harvuot collaborates with STEM coach Derek Pike, STEM lab assistant Shubhra Pathak and community partners to create authentic, real-world learning experiences for students.
“This grant provides our students with the tools and opportunities to be true environmental scientists,” said Principal Joshua Wall. “Our students aren’t just learning about water quality, they’re collecting real data, solving real problems and making a difference right here in our community.”
As part of the cooperative agreement, Jefferson and its partners will collect and submit at least eight water quality data sets to the statewide Hoosier Riverwatch database by 2027. Students will analyze water samples, monitor pH, turbidity and dissolved oxygen levels and explore how local actions impact watershed health.
This initiative continues Jefferson Elementary’s mission to provide STEM-based, inquiry-driven education that connects classroom learning to community impact.
