Arconic awards $30K grants to Burrell, New Kensington-Arnold school districts
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New technologies and equipment will allow Valley High School students to visit places unreachable in the classroom, while Burrell High School students will use them to create products.
New Kensington-Arnold will transform its high school’s planetarium into a Think Tank, while Burrell’s “Bucconomics” program will see seniors undertake an economics-based capstone project.
The programs are being supported with $60,000 in grants from the Arconic Foundation — $30,000 to each district.
Ryan Kish, Arconic Foundation president and treasurer, presented checks to representatives of each district at an event Thursday at the Arconic Technology Center in Upper Burrell.
“Arconic Foundation is investing in local school districts to support their efforts to develop new approaches for engaging and educating students,” Kish said. “These innovative programs illustrate the creativity of local educators to design programs that build essential skills while exploring interdisciplinary concepts.”
As part of their economics course, Burrell seniors will be required to create, develop, deploy and present a product. They will be made using equipment — including 3D printers, a laser etcher, vinyl and 3D printer filament — the district will purchase with its grant.
The program is beginning with this year’s 140-member senior class, high school Principal John Boylan said. The products they create and make will be sold through an online store.
“It can be anything from glassware to other things that people may want,” Boylan said. “They want to talk to the community about things that people may need. We have the technology to do it.”
Boylan said they appreciate Arconic supporting the effort.
“It’s a hands-on kind of project-based learning experience we want our seniors to be involved in,” he said. “We’re very grateful for the opportunity and looking forward to getting it going.”
The Think Tank at Valley High School will be accessible to all students. It will include whiteboard walls, flexible and collaborative furniture, a virtual and augmented reality space, portable green screen, recording studio equipment and a flight simulator.
“That room is going to be like science fiction,” Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said at a school board meeting Tuesday.
The district will use its grant to buy the virtual and augmented reality headsets. They will be used to create virtual 3D models, explore places unreachable in regular settings and allow for virtual tours and meetings, including with industry and manufacturing.
Sefcheck said they plan to launch the Think Tank in the 2023-24 school year.
“We are excited to support our local schools and these innovative STEM programs,” said Shawn Sullivan, managing director of the Arconic Technology Center. “As a leader in aluminum manufacturing, we are always looking for top talent in science and engineering fields. Sponsoring these programs is a great way for us to contribute to growing future generations of scientists and engineers in our own backyard.”