Photograph: Northwest High robotics and computer science teacher David Reed accepts the $50,000.00 grant check from NextEra regional director Chris Cochran. (Photograph by Bobby Ardoin.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
The Northwest High School science, technology, engineering and math programs have received a significant monetary grant intended to enhance the variety of technical programs already offered at the campus.
Officials from NextEra Energy Resources, which has announced plans to construct a solar energy farm east of Port Barre have presented the Northwest STEM program with a $50,000 check that recognizes the efforts of the school to embrace technology instruction.
A press release issued by NextEra said the classroom makeover grant was funded through NextEra Energy Foundation, which is the charitable arm of for NextEra Energy.
The foundation funds grants that improve technology, equipment and resources for STEM education, according to the press release.
During the grant presentation at the school last week, drones flown by students hovered overhead in the school auditorium, while members of the Northwest robotics classes demonstrated how the robots they construct and maintain are used in national competitions.
Northwest teacher David Reed, who coordinates the school robotics program, said the grant funding might possibly be used to expand the STEM room.
Reed said the computer science and robotics classes that he teaches has grown exponentially since 2018. During the first year that Northwest offered robotics, Reed said there were three students in his classes.
“Now we have something like 30 students in the program. We’re the only (robotics) competing team in the parish and one of the few that currently exist in Acadiana,” Reed said.
Northwest, which Reed said ranks in the top one percent of competitive student teams nationally, will compete April 25-27 in national robotics competition.
“We have four robotics teams, but one of those is the competition teams,” Reed added.
Chris Cochran, NextEra regional director, said during a presentation ceremony that the company has already provided Louisiana high schools with four similar technology grants, while two others have been provided for schools in Arkansas.
“These STEM grants are intended to make a difference in education and they illustrate the desire of (NextEra) to make a difference in education. We value the partnership with community schools. They help train a workforce that will be beneficial to NextEra,” Cochran said.
Cochran said NextEra intends to assist school programs like those at Northwest, which he said have been successful with their graphics and computer programs.
St. Landry Parish School Superintendent Patrick Jenkins pointed out that it’s obvious to District officials that Northwest High has been invested in promoting an innovative STEM curriculum.
“This (grant) illustrates that students at the school have been doing an awesome job and this is a reward for all their work and effort,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins added that the school also has STEM classes which are teaching students to become licensed drone pilots following their graduations.
Parish president Jessie Bellard said the NextEra grant represents a funding initiative that the company intends to assist students who are interested in STEM-program employment after leaving high school.
“This is not a gift (by NextEra). It’s some that the company really believes in doing. We (the parish) have the tools and great schools. We just hope that our students come back to the parish,” said Bellard.
