Pictured are Superintendent Gary Weber, STEM Facilitator Joe McClellan, STEM Administrator Misty Weber, and an afternoon group of STEM students.

The STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) program at the Warren County Career Center has received a $2,500 grant from the Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools. The association is a highly effective organization whose voice reaches across economic and geographic boundaries. It provides valuable services to members, with the goal to benefit students in all of the Commonwealth’s schools, but especially those in poor, small, and rural schools.

STEM Program facilitator, Joe McClellan, applied for the grant in order to purchase a career and technical education robot to introduce students to mechatronics, which is the integration of many disciplines into one. A blend of computing and engineering; both mechanical and electrical, mechatronics is essential to automation and manufacturing as it includes a combination of robotics, computer science, telecommunications, systems, control, automation and product engineering.

“This robotics kit is something different than any other option I had previously. Basically, the main component is a six-axis robotic arm that you can program to move pieces onto different conveyor belts based on their characteristics. This helps to teach students skills that they could apply later in warehousing or manufacturing related careers. I’m really thankful our application was selected,” said McClellan.