The Hoover engineering department received a $2.5 million Career Technical Equipment Grant. The money will help renovate the engineering classrooms along with the Fab Lab area. The funding will also go towards new state-of-the-art equipment, along with professional development and safety features, according to engineering teacher Mr. Todd Alkire. This will benefit the engineering department as a whole and to push students further in the program. All of the renovations will continue in the spring and hopefully be finished by the fall of the 2025-26 school year.

The Grant

In October 2023, Alkire applied for a highly competitive Career Tech Grant from the Ohio State Board of Education. Fifty-six schools in total received this grant and it will benefit more than 10,500 engineering students all across the state. The state of Ohio set aside $300 million to these selected schools, with Hoover receiving $2.5 million.

Renovation and Equipment

About half of the money received from the grant will be put towards the renovation of the Fab Lab area of Hoover’s engineering classrooms. As far as renovations go, the process has already started on new flooring, and there are also plans on installing radon mitigation, electrical updates,an open concept, and installing a sort of garage system, according to Alkire. The other $1.5 million will be put into equipment, professional development, and safety measures. They will be putting in various 3D printing, additive manufacturing, laser engravers, CNC equipment, water jet, Hoss Mill, and FANUC robotic arms.

Benefits

“This grant is all for the students. In what ways is this grant going to benefit our engineering students? Well, the major detail is obviously industry recognized credentials. This is basically teaching everyday real work skills that can pave the way for employment directly out of high school. Students now have the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing technology. This allows students to know more and do more within their career tech,” he said.

Engineering program

Not only will this grant benefit the students of Hoover, but with the program open to Lake and Jackson students as well, it will truly benefit the entire community, Alkire added. “Not only that but thinking large scale wise, we have 550 manufacturers right here in Stark County and with the upgrades to our program, we will be able to support those manufacturers with our students post-grad. With five courses total, this is an absolutely amazing program that we can’t wait to see grow and expand.”