Township High School District 211 Foundation

Motorola Foundation grant to help fund District 211 engineering program equipment

Once in a great while a program becomes available that is more than just an educational opportunity. It also is a chance to present a valuable vocational option for students who are typically underrepresented in an important career area. Such is the case with Project Lead the Way. This series of courses provides a combination of engineering concepts and experiences, as well as significant career investigations, for students who are interested in exploring engineering in its many facets.

Project Lead the Way is an established program that is supported by major Colleges of Engineering, including those at Purdue University and the University of Illinois. Starting with a general concepts course, and moving towards courses aimed at investigating specific areas of engineering such as bio-engineering and aeronautical engineering, the program provides a basic understanding of the work done by engineers in the 21st century. An investigation of the program as it has been offered in other states reveals that not only does this provide access to vocational exploration for the general high school population, but that young women and minority students, currently underrepresented in the engineering vocation, also have gained insight into this esteemed career area.

Because this program attempts to reflect true experiences in engineering, it is highly-dependent on technology and specialized equipment. One such piece of equipment is a three-dimensional printer that can produce physical objects from drawings developed by students on computers. These 3-D printers are very expensive pieces of equipment and provide an experience that cannot be duplicated elsewhere for students.

“Recognizing that the need of students involved in the District’s Project Lead the Way program fit perfectly with the mission of the Motorola Foundation, namely to fund projects that educate and attract students to careers in mathematics, science, and engineering, our committee presented a grant application for purchase of a 3-D printer,” said Susan Farmer, District 211 Foundation chair. “With the help of the Motorola Foundation, this grant will provide outstanding opportunities for District 211 students who are interested in engineering.” The District 211 Foundation and the faculty and students of the District’s Applied Technology Department are most pleased that the Motorola Foundation has chosen to fund this grant proposal, providing approximately $35,000 for the purchase of a 3-D printer for use by students in several of District 211 schools.

“Previously, students solved design problems through the use of 2-dimensional design software,” commented Mark Hibner, District chair for applied technology. “Now, students can take solving design problems to a whole new level by evaluating the form, fit, and function of parts that were made using a 3-D printer. This gives students in engineering classes the opportunity to take an idea and make it into a reality. That is the true essence of engineering. I appreciate the work of both the District 211 Foundation and the Motorola Foundation in supporting this exciting opportunity for our students.”

For additional information please refer to www.motorola.com/giving