Penguins Science Champions: A New Model for STEM Education Launching in the 2025.26 school year, Pittsburgh Penguins Science Champions is a bold new initiative designed to ignite curiosity and build scientific thinking among elementary students across Appalachia. By using hockey as a fun and familiar entry
Penguins Foundation Scholarships: Investing in the Next Generation When Robert Mahoney of Meadville, Pennsylvania learned he’d been selected as the 2025 Bob Johnson Memorial Scholarship recipient, he was both honored and inspired. Now a freshman at Wake Forest
Each teacher in the pilot will receive a prototype kit to test in their classroom. “We have a lesson that can meet any STEELS standard,” Coppula explained. “All the materials you need are there, along with detailed instructions. We’d love to see teachers use it to fill gaps, try something new, or explore different subject matter.” Science Champions builds on the success of Reading Champions, the Penguins Foundation’s hockey-themed literacy initiative that has improved reading skills and engagement for hundreds of students. Just as Reading Champions helped children see themselves as readers, Science Champions aims to help them see themselves as scientists, engineers, and innovators—pairing the thrill of the game with the wonder of discovery. Get Involved This initiative represents a long-term investment in the region’s future. By pairing the thrill of the game with the wonder of discovery, Science Champions is laying the groundwork for a replicable model of STEM education. Are you an educator in Allegheny County or West Virginia interested in bringing Science Champions to your classroom? We’d love to hear from you. Contact us at info@pittsburghpenguinsfoundation.org to receive curriculum kits and join the growing Science Champions network. Together, we can inspire the next generation of problem solvers.
A lifelong Penguins fan, Mahoney admires Sidney Crosby’s calm, steady leadership style—an approach he tried to emulate as captain of his high school team. He said the $5,000 scholarship has been a meaningful boost as he begins college. “The coolest part about this whole experience was learning about Bob Johnson, how much of an inspiration he was and what a positive impact he made in his year of coaching. It’s pretty cool and pretty remarkable.”
Each year, the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, with support from UPMC, awards ten scholarships to Western Pennsylvania high school seniors who excel academically, give back through community service, and demonstrate leadership. In 2025, the Foundation awarded $41,000 across the following categories: • Penguins Foundation First-Year Scholarships – Five scholarships: $3,000 each for graduating seniors beginning their college journeys • Penguins Foundation Second-Year Scholarships – Five scholarships: $2,000 each for past recipients entering their sophomore year • Bob Johnson Memorial Scholarship – One scholar- ship: $5,000 for academic achievement, community service, and leadership in school hockey programs • Penguins Alumni Association Scholarship – One scholarship: $5,000 for strong academics, good citizenship, community involvement, and a love for the game Are you a high school senior ready to take the next step? Apply for a Penguins Foundation Scholarship and join a growing community of future leaders. Visit pittsburghpenguinsfoundation.org/education for eligibility details and deadlines.
point, the program brings hands-on, inquiry-based science learning to life— especially in under-resourced schools, where access to high-quality STEM instruction is often limited. The program was developed in partnership with the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and a dedicated group of 40 local educators, who gathered at PPG Paints Arena in March 2025 for Science on the Ice, a lively design charrette. During the session, teachers collaborated to brainstorm creative ways to weave science and math into the game of hockey—exploring topics like friction, force, geometry, and data analysis. Their input directly shaped the development of ready-to-use classroom kits that include lesson plans, hands-on materials, and support tools aligned with Pennsylvania’s STEELS standards and West Virginia’s College and Career Readiness Standards. Debbie Coppula, senior professional development manager at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, noted that the collaboration felt like a natural fit. “Science curriculum for second and third graders that addressed the STEELS standards was really in line with what we do at the museum. We try to make learning fun, we try to bring play into learning, and we try to inspire creativity and curiosity,” she said. “Knowing that this was a resource teachers could actually use in their classrooms was important for us.”
University, Mahoney continues to play on the school’s club hockey team and credits the sport with giving him lifelong friendships and confidence that extends far beyond the rink. “The relationships I built with coaches, players, my lifelong friends that I’ve made through the sport, is my favorite part of hockey,” Mahoney said. “It’s just been a great network for me.”
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Backed by nearly $100,000 in private investment from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, PNC Charitable Trust, and Alcoa Foundation, Science Champions will pilot in Allegheny County, PA, and Monongalia and Ohio Counties, WV. The pilot year will focus on distributing kits, delivering educator training, and collecting feedback to refine and strengthen the program for regional expansion.
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