by Jean Cole

Hoping to offer virtual reality and other methods of education that appeal to video-game-playing generations, the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives in Athens asked the city Monday to pledge $500,000 toward a $1-million cost to build an education center for students.

The proposed education center is meant to inspire students to study science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, or STEAM.

The museum plans to raise a total of $2.2 million, however, for the education center and other improvements to the museum.