ALMONT \u2014 Almont Schools\u2018 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) programming has received a shot in the arm via a generous donation from two anonymous donors.<\/p>\n
While not divulging names, Almont Middle School Principal Kim VonHiltmayer said the donation totaled $30,813 and was presented by local business L&L Products.<\/p>\n
\u201eI can only reveal that the gift is from a 1949 Almont High School alumni, and his daughter, who is a Romeo High School graduate.<\/p>\n
\u201eThis donation represents a significant boost for our STEM\u2008programs,\u201c said VonHiltmayer. \u201eThese funds will be distributed district wide (K-12), so each of our schools will benefit.\u201c<\/p>\n
She pointed out that the gift can be applied to the district\u2019s \u201eProject Lead the Way\u201c (PLTW) initiative, a specific fund to benefit Almont Schools\u2018 CAD, Robotics, design and modeling, engineering and biomedical programs.<\/p>\n
VonHiltmayer noted that funding for such programs is very costly, making the recent donation that much more valuable for Almont Schools.<\/p>\n
Almont High School student Mark Camaj is shown loading samples into agarose gel, a substance used in the study of biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics and chemistry.<\/p>\n
As an example of the programming\u2019s cost, just the participating fees amounted to about $5,000.<\/p>\n
\u201eThese funds are particularly significant to our district,\u201c VonHiltmayer added. \u201eThey will help us sustain this very important programming for our students.\u201c<\/p>\n
School officials report that the grant funds will be divided among the district\u2019s three schools based on need, with about $7,000 going to STEM programming at Orchard Primary School; $14,000 to the middle school and $10,000 to the high school.<\/p>\n
Each school was required to submit a \u201eneeds list\u201c to L&L, allowing the donors to determine the levels of financial support.<\/p>\n
Almont High School science teacher John Bacci said about 100 of his engineering and design students will be direct beneficiaries of the funding.<\/p>\n
He noted that Almont High School began offering an \u201eIntroduction to Engineering and Design\u201c class two years ago; and this year the school has added a \u201ePrinciples of Engineering\u201c class, which he teaches.<\/p>\n
\u201eThe kids are really liking these classes,\u201c said Bacci. \u201eInterest is growing and we now have two full sections of students participating.<\/p>\n
\u201eBy offering these classes, our students have the opportunity to test the waters and gauge their interest levels,\u201c he continued. \u201eShould they choose to pursue these fields in college or as a career, they will already have an excellent knowledge base.\u201c<\/p>\n
Though Bacci does not know the anonymous donor(s), he is thankful for all those who financially support programs integral to educating today\u2019s students for tomorrow\u2019s jobs.<\/p>\n
\u201eFrom all of us at Almont Schools, I want to say thank you to L&L\u2008Products and to the generous donors,\u201c Bacci said. \u201eWe are very grateful for their support.\u201c<\/p>\n
Fellow science teacher Kris Rohrbeck teaches the district\u2019s \u201ebiomedical\u201c program, which will also benefit from the donation.<\/p>\n
\u201eThis year\u2019s grant from L&L Products is going to pay for our high school participation fees for our PLTW Engineering and Biomedical programs, while supplying all of our consumable materials for both programs,\u201c said Rohrbeck.<\/p>\n
Rohrbeck noted that L&L has also committed funds that will allow high school science teachers to train and learn the new \u201eNext Generation Science Standards.\u201c<\/p>\n
\u201eThose standards will guide our science curriculum from grades K-12 going forward,\u201c she said. \u201eScience is the subject that our district\u2019s \u201acurriculum council\u2018 has chosen to study for K-12 alignment over the next 2-3 years. Training in the new standards will be critical to our success.\u201c<\/p>\n
Rohrbeck expressed enthusiasm for the district\u2019s commitment to the PLTW initiative and to science programming in general.<\/p>\n
She offered some insight into the primary challenge students taking her Principles of Biomedical course are facing this school year.<\/p>\n
\u201eThe course is designed around a case study involving the mysterious death of a 38-year-old woman,\u201c Rohrbeck explained. \u201eStudents work collaboratively to analyze and understand the decedent\u2019s health and family history through the (school) year to determine her cause of death. \u201eOur students will conduct sophisticated, real-life, biomedical lab experiments, such as hematocrit and DNA electrophoresis, to build an understanding of the relationship between body system physiology and abnormal pathology related to disease.\u201c<\/p>\n
Rohrbeck said students will study health issues facing their own and fellow students\u2018 family members. \u201eThe course teaches students about the human anatomy and physiology of each malady,\u201c she said, \u201ebut also how to proactively prevent illness and disease through positive, deliberate choices.\u201c Rohrbeck said the class introduces students to a host of health and medical professions.<\/p>\n
\u201eMany of our graduating seniors pursue studies in the health and medical professions,\u201c she noted, \u201eso this course is a great fit for our student career aspirations.\u201c<\/p>\n
Almont Schools Supt. Dr. William Kalmar also offered thanks to the donors, along with kudos to (Middle School Principal) Kim VonHiltmayer for her efforts on behalf of the entire district.<\/p>\n
\u201eWe are grateful for the generosity of L&L in providing the district yet another very generous grant,\u201c said Kalmar. \u201eI would also like to thank Kim VonHiltmayer for taking the lead in developing our grant proposal. \u201eHaving been with the Almont district for almost a year now,\u201c he said, \u201eit is impressive to view the comprehensive K-12 approach Almont has developed in the field of STEM education,\u201c said Kalmar. \u201eThis new grant will help to insure the sustainability of these efforts.\u201c<\/p>\n
Tri-City Times<\/p>\n