Albion High School receives $1,000 for STEM programs
Provided photo: Crosby Stores and ExxonMobil presented $1,000 to for a STEM program at Albion. Pictured from left include: Brenda Thompson, Crosby Stores District Leader; Sabrina Lipowski, Territory Sales Advisor for Reid Petroleum; High School Principal Jennifer Ashbery; and Superintendent of Schools Michael Bonnewell.
Press Release, Albion Central School
ALBION – Charles C. D’Amico High School is the recipient of $1,000 in grant funds that will be used to boost the school’s STEM programs.
Albion received $500 from the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance Program, and Reid Petroleum and Crosby Stores matched that award with an additional $500 to be used to support math and science education.
Executives from Crosby Stores stated, “Since its inception, the Educational Alliance Program has provided grants to help with funding to support Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education programs. Partnering with ExxonMobil, the Reid group strives to help give students the tools and technology they need to connect what they see in the classroom with what they see in the real world. It is part of ExxonMobile and the Reid Group’s efforts to support STEM education within the communities we serve.”
Some of the funds will be used in the High School for the Python computer programming class. Micro:bits were recently purchased for the Python class. A Micro:bit is a programmable device which can be programmed using Python or graphical code blocks.
Students can program the device to respond to changes to motion, light, magnetic field or button presses. The Micro:bit is used to teach the Python programming language to students while providing the opportunity to solve open ended problems. The students enjoy working with the Micro:bits and these new funds will be used to purchase additional Micro:bit accessories.
Funds will also be used to support project-based learning in the science and technology classrooms. Accessories for the technology department’s router table will be purchased, allowing our students to design and create projects with materials that can be milled down to 1/16 of an inch.
Also, a steam generator will enable students to bend wood in the production of fishing nets here at the high school. Additional supplies will support the new aquarium for our Living Environment classroom as students study and research the small scale ecosystem and its relation to our local community.
