Robert Bowman, a ninth-grade science teacher at Les Bois Junior High School, is excited about 10 new microscope slides that were delivered to his classroom on Tuesday. His students now get to learn hands-on about cell biology.

“I want to make my students feel like scientist,” Bowman said. “I always try to come up with new ways to meet the kids’ needs and find funding for it.”

The microscope slides that cost $1,180 were funded through the Fuel Your School program. The money is raised through the community that chooses to fill up at a local Chevron or Texaco station during the month of October, and chevron donates $1 for each tank filled.

“Teachers spend $400 of their own money to pay for school supplies and we want to help,” said Greg Hardy, a Chevron representative.

The program has made such an impact in Idaho, Gov. Butch Otter proclaimed October “Fuel Idaho Schools” month during the delivery of the new science slides. Bowman’s classroom project is one of 67 classroom projects funded as of Oct. 9 in Idaho

“The science, technology, engineering and math part of our education system is critically important” Otter said. “Material and supplies are tight for teachers.”

Nearly 20 students in Bowman’s class tried out the new materials and were excited about the new learning opportunity.

“This is going to further my scientific knowledge,” said freshman Jack Burum. “These slides are fun to look at and it’s going to be a new adventure.”

Fuel Your School is now in its second year in Ada and Canyon counties. The program will generate up to $250,000 this fall, which will help fund classroom supplies and materials, including those focused on science, technology, engineering, math and hands-on activities to help connect real world experiences to classroom learning. Last year, 202 school projects were funded on DonorsChoose.org and impacted 26,784 students.