MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – The Boys and Girls Club of Meridian celebrated the opening of a new STEAM-focused learning lab Thursday, made possible through the Brightstar Lottery’s After School Advantage (ASA) program in partnership with the Mississippi Lottery Corporation.
The program, which partners with nonprofit organizations to support underprivileged youth, is part of Brightstar’s ongoing commitment to education and opportunity across the state.
“What we really want to do as a company is help support underprivileged youth here in Mississippi,” said Eric Genthe, general manager of Brightstar Lottery Mississippi.
The newly completed lab marks Brightstar’s 11th ASA project in Mississippi, joining others in cities such as Gulfport, Vicksburg, Jackson, and Starkville. Genthe said his team of eight completed the Meridian project in just four days.
“What we do is introduce STEAM programs and the arts to organizations like this to try and capture the kids at a very young age and introduce them to these things, so it becomes part of their norm,” Genthe said. “We know there has to be a hook to get the kids into the room — and that’s the video games. Once you get them in, we can start introducing coding kits and other learning tools.”
Savannah Tirey, vice president of communications and social media for the Mississippi Lottery Corporation, said the Meridian lab helps expand the program’s reach statewide.
“It’s important to cover all parts of the state,” Tirey said. “We’ve been on the coast, in central Mississippi and the Starkville area. We really wanted to come to the eastern part of the state, and we’re thrilled to be here.”
Brightstar, which produces all scratch-off and draw game tickets for the Mississippi Lottery, works with the organization to give back through both education and infrastructure support.
“Every month the lottery transfers money back to the state to benefit highways, bridges and education,” Tirey said. “This is just an extension of that — further giving back to Mississippi communities.”
