Jessica Huizenga, Superintendent
100 West St.
Milford, NH 03055
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019
Media Contact: Jordan Mayblum
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: jordan@jgpr.net
Milford’s Applied Technology Center Earns Grant to Support Biomaterials Education
MILFORD — Superintendent Jessica Huizenga is pleased to announce that the Milford School District’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Innovation Project has earned federal funding.
The Milford High School Applied Technology Center has received a $7,000 N.H. BioMade Advanced Biomaterials federal grant, which aims to advance the design and manufacture of biomaterials, as well as the rapidly growing New Hampshire biomaterials industry.
The grant will support the district’s efforts to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) career pathways for all Milford students, with an emphasis on students from underrepresented populations in the STEM fields.
The Milford CTE Innovation Project aims to build cohesion between the middle and high school career development curricula by establishing an academic STEM pipeline with a focus on biomanufacturing and bio-related careers for middle school students preparing for high school. The program will also prepare high school students to pursue college degrees or join the workforce after high school in bio-related and STEM disciplines by creating a structure that supports equitable distribution of consistent and effective curriculum, as well as a variety of extracurricular activities.
Representatives from local manufacturing companies, academia, CTE centers from throughout New Hampshire and local bio-related companies will be invited to participate in educational workshops they create or have a table they can use to promote STEM education in the State of NH. In addition, organizations that promote diversity STEM will be invited to take part in the program.
With the grant, Milford High teachers will be able to dedicate time to planning and hosting STEAM nights after school, as well as develop relevant curricula and materials that will enable students to explore the biomanufacturing field. In addition, the school will purchase a variety of equipment, including Sphero tablets, a Littlebits Smart Home Kit and more.
“This additional funding will be invaluable in expanding our offerings so that we can make a more concerted effort to invite a variety of bio-related and biomanufacturing stakeholders to meet our students and introduce them to this exciting work,” Applied Technology Center Director Vaso Partinoudi said. “I strongly feel that all of our middle and high school students can expand their horizons through opportunities like these and build their innovation skills so that they can pursue a variety of careers after graduation.”
“We’re so excited to be able to expand our CTE programming and give our students hands-on experience and a chance to explore such a quickly growing industry,” Career Development Specialist Jenn DiMaria said.
This statewide initiative was funded by the National Science Foundation and gave education and industry professionals the opportunity to develop and implement curriculum or training enhancements that will address skills gaps, attract and better prepare students to enter a career or academic pathway in biomaterials or bio-related advanced manufacturing.
More information on the NH BioMade Educational Grant can be found at:
https://unh.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1788808
About the Milford High School ATC:
ATC students can earn various credentials through their CTE courses. This year, students earned Running Start/College credits in 15 ATC courses, Transcripted Credit in two courses, and an industry certification in one course. Articulation Agreements are pursued for four additional courses.
Overall this year, 506 MHS/ATC students will take a total of 766 courses at the ATC and earn Running Start and industrial certification, with 459 of those being entry level courses while the remaining 261 were advanced level courses.
This year was the first year that a mechatronics course was offered to freshmen with great success and an externship program was offered to our seniors. Spraying Systems Inc. and Hitchiner Manufacturing were recently joined by Alene’s Candles and are offering externships to students this year that pay $12 per hour and that carry 12 Running Start credits through the Manchester Community College.
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