Trinity Christian College Awarded Its First NSF Grant
Trinity Christian College has achieved a significant milestone by securing its first National Science Foundation (NSF) grant. This grant, awarded to support the 2025 Workshop on Data for Good for Education (D4G4ED), is a testament to our commitment to academic excellence and professional development. The news of this grant, received just after the start of the academic year, is a cause for celebration for the Trinity community.
In its second year, D4G4ED is meant to further the idea that every data science classroom can be a source of good work in the world. This serves as a professional development opportunity for all instructors seeking to engage their students more deeply through meaningful social good projects within a classroom setting. The workshop is meant to inspire, educate, and, most importantly, allow faculty the chance to share and prepare materials for use within their own teaching context, featuring keynote speakers, ideas and innovation sessions, networking with other instructors, and sessions about data for good teaching practices.
“We have never been awarded an NSF grant before. Part of this process was a long series of paperwork that Ashleigh Velasquez, Controller at Trinity, diligently completed this summer – a big thanks to her and the team that got this completed,” stated Karl R.B. Schmitt, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Computing and Data Analytics Chair at Trinity. Most of the grant funds will support faculty and graduate student participation and pay for speakers, event logistics, and activities.
One of the key components of increasing persistence and success for the current generation of college students is connecting their coursework to meaningful change or outcomes. The D4G4ED workshop, by supporting faculty in developing their teaching to better incorporate the Data for Social Good (DSG) movement, is not just about our community. It’s about making a difference at the grassroots level in our society and promoting the broad applicability of data science.
Whether instructors are just starting their journey or have been supporting social good for years, D4G4ED deepens thinking, provides new lenses for projects, and broadens support networks for helping students engage in meaningful work from a data science perspective.
“The big idea is that data for good can, and should, be incorporated deeply into educational practices within data science,” added Dr. Schmitt. “This grant is an exciting opportunity to merge my academic work of teaching data science with my faith and passion for bringing about God’s vision for the world through data and social good.”
Dr. Schmitt plans to pursue further NSF funding in the long term. He hopes that, in collaboration with a team at Trinity, this will lead to more great opportunities directly related to supporting Trinity students for years to come.
Click here to learn more about the Computing and Data Analytics Program at Trinity Christian College.
