The PPG Foundation recently donated $5,000 to Cleveland County Schools in Shelby, North Carolina, to develop a mobile creation and experimentation makerspace for use in district programs. The grant was made on behalf of the local PPG fiber glass facility.

“We appreciate the PPG Foundation’s support in helping our students apply science, technology and math concepts through an engineering-focused approach that includes skill development and competition,” said Dr. Anita Ware, director of secondary education at Cleveland County Schools. “The ‘pop-up’ makerspace gives our students endless opportunities to explore, design and apply their knowledge.”

Throughout the year, teams of students in schools throughout the district participate in workshops focused on science, technology, engineering and math that build their capacity to compete against other district teams in various challenges. The makerspace includes 3-D printing and laser cutting, both of which enable students to deepen their experience by using some of the same tools adult engineers use in their careers.

“Hands-on education, such as that provided by the mobile makerspace, helps students better understand what’s involved in engineering and other technical careers,” said Todd Douthit, PPG manufacturing manager at the Shelby facility. “PPG is proud to be involved with a program offering applied learning that helps prepare the advanced-manufacturing workforce of the future.”