Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation has awarded a $25,000 grant to Hopewell’s Academy of Engineering. The grant will be used to upgrade current instructional technology utilized by instructors in the academy program, which is designed to provide high school students with hands-on introduction and early educational indoctrination into the engineering profession.

The academy grant was recommended by a 10-member hometown grants advisory committee coordinated by Mooresville-headquartered Lowe’s that includes representatives from education, recreation and business in Lake Norman-area communities.

The advisory committee reviews applications quarterly and recommends grants for final funding decisions. The foundation has earmarked $300,000 in annual contributions for community improvement and public school projects in the Lake Norman region.