Alcoa donated $15,000 to the Southwest Louisiana Alliance Foundation to be used for a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program that began this year at Sulphur High School’s 9th Grade Campus. The school received 15 robots and additional sensors for each robot to expand its functions. Marielle Myers, Sulphur High’s Engineering Teacher, received online training through Carnegie Mellon Robotics Training Academy on the curriculum and hardware to effectively deliver this new program.
Stephen Ness (Plant Manager) from Alcoa and R.B. Smith (VP, Business Development) and Morgan Turpin (Foundation Director) from the SWLA Economic Development Alliance recently visited the classroom to see the program in action. PICTURED: Turpin, Ness, Myers with students in the Robotics Class
Coding and robotics are basic workforce skills needed to attract and sustain information technology businesses to our region. By having this program in the K-12 school system, our organizations are preparing our next generation of workers with foundational skills that will make them employable in careers with jobs that have yet to be developed.
About Alcoa
Alcoa (NYSE: AA) is a global industry leader in bauxite, alumina, and aluminum products, and is built on a foundation of strong values and operating excellence dating back nearly 130 years to the world-changing discovery that made aluminum an affordable and vital part of modern life. Since developing the aluminum industry, and throughout our history, our talented Alcoans have followed on with breakthrough innovations and best practices that have led to efficiency, safety, sustainability, and stronger communities wherever we operate.
About the Calcasieu Parish School Board
The Calcasieu Parish School Board is the fifth largest school district in the state of Louisiana and one of the largest employers in the area with around 5,000 positions. CPSB values the opportunity to educate over 30,000 each school year while working to build foundations for the future. The district strives to provide quality educational opportunities for all students with qualified and compassionate instructors and mentors.
About the SWLA Alliance Foundation
The SWLA Alliance Foundation is the only 501c3, non-profit agency in the Southwest Louisiana region devoted solely to the economic development of our region. The Foundation’s mission is to organize missions/events for the purpose of educating the world about the economic opportunities available in the Southwest Louisiana region; to work with area governments relating to business and economic development; produce and support economic activities and publications relating to our region; educate our general public of the need for economic development and the benefits gained thereafter; and to coordinate with other non-profit organizations for the economic development of the Southwest Louisiana region.
Website by Accrisoft