Zoarville - Tuscarawas Valley Press Release

Reaching For The Stars

Lucas Whitmer, 6th grade, Tuscarawas Valley Middle School, explains a process to Bill Murphy of Truck Sales & Service, Midvale, OH .

Stan Koehlinger of Koehlinger Engineering, Bolivar, OH gets a design lesson from Tuscarawas 8th grader Tony Lint.

Dr. Kamal Bichara, Director of Engineering Technology- Kent State University, Tuscarawas and Dr. Kathy Sommers of the Ohio Department of Education listen in disbelief as SIXTH GRADER Lucas Whitmer of Tuscarawas Valley Middle School shows them his technological prowess.

Steve Stokey, Executive Vice President of Allied Machine and Engineering Corp. addresses the crowd of about 60 business leaders and educators in attendance at the Project Lead the Way showcase.

Mike Lauber, Chairman & CEO of Tusco Display, Gnadenhutten OH questions students Gabby Blayock and Kaley Coss, both 7th graders at Tuscarawas Valley Middle School about their Gateway to Technology program.

Project Lead the Way fosters interest in engineering, biomedicine

Students who think they might want to be doctors or engineers in the future will have a better chance to identify the skills needed to pursue those careers through a program called “Project Lead the Way.”

The program, a national initiative, will offer engineering and biomedical classes to junior high and high school students. The middle school or junior high program is titled “Gateway to Technology.”

Project Lead the Way was started to help the country meet the need for growing demand for engineers and biomedical personnel. Many of the baby boomers are retiring and causing a shortage in this area.

About 60 educators and business leaders attended a “Project Lead the Way” showcase at Tuscarawas Valley middle and high schools Wednesday.

Tuscarawas Valley Schools Superintendent Mark Murphy said Strasburg, Indian Valley, Dover and New Philadelphia joined his district in participating in Project Lead the Way. Murphy said the project focuses on the gateway to technology and encouraging young people who might look to move from the Tuscarawas County for better jobs to stay here.

Murphy said the generosity and financial support of the businesses and community have been overwhelming. Middle School Principal Tim McGrate said 100 percent in grades 6-8 are participating in the program.

Tony Lint,14, an 8th-grader, said the 7th and 8th grades designed a modeling dragster that races on a 24-foot track using an air compressor.

“I love this class,” he said with a smile.

Lucas Whitmer, 12, had designed a rocket on his computer screen. The 6th-grader was able to test various fuels to see which would be more efficient for the size and weight of the rocket.

Steve Stockey of Allied Machine and Engineering Corp. at Dover is the project’s county advisory leader. He said this county has the best secret of natural resources (its children) coming out of area high schools.

“These are good kids who think, are progressive and have hometown values,” Stokey said. “ I don’t have the vision to tell you what is coming in the future, but we need to educate these kids.”

His goal to implement funding for Project Lead the Way I s $900,000. He has pledges of $650,000.

At the high school those attending saw a class, Intro to Engineering Design, taught by Ron Gauding.

Christian Teague, 16, a junior, lives on a farm and designed a building that he is constructing next to a barn. It is for storing farm equipment. His current project is designing brackets for shelves already built.

Dr. Doug Baker, Asst. Principal at New Philadelphia High School; Dr. Kamal Bichara; and Steve Sparks, PLTW teacher at Dover High School, get some ideas on the advantages of hands-on learning from student Rachel Cornell, a 6th grader at Tuscarawas Valley Middle School.