Cleveland, OH - The Berea City Club recently announced a $100,000 grant payable over three years for Berea City Schools. The grant dollars awarded to BCSD will help in the creation of a Berea-Midpark High School MakerSpace area that features project-based learning labs to provide innovative spaces centered around Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEM/STEAM) and will include a laser engraver, 3D printers, a 10-needle embroidery machine, and supplies.
In appreciation for this generous donation, the district will name the makerspace “The Berea City Club, Inc. Mayor Stanley J. Trupo Makerspace” and include the City Club logo on signage.
Assistant Superintendent Mike Draves, noted “We cannot begin to thank the Berea City Club enough for their donation to get our Makerspace started in this way. We are dedicated to providing our students with hands-on, creative and meaningful educational experiences. When we brought the makerspace idea to the Berea City Club to ask for their help, they were very engaged in learning more and asked us great questions on how this can benefit our community and our students. They have decided to make this “investment” into our children’s education and for that we cannot be more grateful.”
Vicki Turner, Director of Technology for Berea City Schools, stated “We are excited to be able to include a MakerSpace learning environment that is available to all students in the new high school through this generous grant from The Berea City Club. This MakerSpace will provide our students with an inclusive place to be creative and innovative, while developing problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. The students, district, and community will most certainly benefit because of this opportunity to expand what we can offer.”
“We thank The Berea City Club for this very meaningful grant award. Our high school students are accomplishing amazing things on a daily basis and our new MakerSpace area will surely add endless possibilities for our students. We are already proud of the learning environment at Berea-Midpark High School, but this MakerSpace will further enhance our ability to assist in the growth and development of our students,” said Mark Smithberger, Principal of BMHS.
Jack Draves, President of the Berea City Club said, “The membership of the Berea City Club thought it was important and appropriate to recognize our founder, Mayor Stanley J. Trupo, with the Makerspace donation to the Berea City Schools. Mayor Trupo’s vision for the Berea City Club of bettering the community parallels the goals of the Makerspace--to promote betterment and opportunities for students. Furthermore, we believe this investment in the schools and our students will pay big dividends in the future as these students enter the workforce. We see the Makerspace as an excellent opportunity to connect the student community with the business community. This is a win-win for everyone.”
The Berea City Club was founded in 1998 by Mayor Stanley J. Trupo as a civic organization dedicated to promoting positive civic interests for the benefit of the community of Berea. The Berea City Club, over its 22 year history, has donated over $1 million to various clubs, organizations, and projects in the City of Berea.
Photo courtesy of Berea City Club
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