Bloomington-Normal STEM program giving away glasses for eclipse

Posted on August 11, 2017

By Eric Stock

NORMAL – Some local teachers will be able to can equip their students with safety glasses to view the solar eclipse.

The Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council’s BN STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) program will be giving about the glasses to more than a dozen classes through a Facebook promotion.

EDC spokesman Zach Dietmeier said the glasses giveaway came from a chance to get more McLean County kids interested in STEM fields.

“It’s to keep folks safe as they check out the eclipse and a great opportunity for us to have some fun with it,” Dietmeier said.

The EDC will be giving away 3,700 glasses for the Aug. 21 eclipse.

“It’s kind of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a fun way to get out what the EDC and the STEM imitative are doing through this program,” Dietmeier said. “We took an opportunity to buy up some glasses.”

Winners will be announced Monday.

The following business purchased glasses to disburse. Community members can contact or visit these businesses to pick up a pair or two:
Justin Boyd, Country Financial
Challenger Learning Center at Heartland Community College, Normal
Children’s Discovery Museum, Normal
Coffrin’s ATA Martial Arts, Bloomington
Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group, Bloomington
Mueller, Reece & Hinch, Bloomington
Suzi Davis Travel, Bloomington
Tevoert Auto Repair, Bloomington

These groups made eclipse glasses classroom donations:
Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal
CEFCU, Peoria
Integrity Technology Solutions, Bloomington
Becky Kirkpatrick
Kathy Michael (personal donation, not from County Clerk role)
Ryan O’Connell
Pinnacle Actuarial Resources, Bloomington
Traci Pitts
Cindy Schwartz

Information provided by the Bloomington-Normal EDC.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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