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Nashoba Tech Recipient of Major Grant for Life Sciences

Nashoba Valley Technical High School is one of 31 Massachusetts educational facilities to receive a share of $3.2 million in grants to support programs in life sciences. Nashoba Tech received $96,665.20 from Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, which for the second year in a row has awarded more than 30 grants worth more than $3 million.

The grant awards were announced at a press conference held at Nashoba Tech Dec. 20, and hosted by Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray and Susan Windham-Bannister, president and CEO of the Life Sciences Center.

Murray said the grants, awarded to 29 technical high schools and public high schools in Gateway Cities, as well as two workforce training programs, are a vital part of Gov. Deval Patrick's goal to retain Massachusetts' standing as a leader in so-called STEM education - science, technology, engineering and math.

"Our administration continues to invest in STEM education, jobs and workforce development to prepare the next generation of students and leaders in our economy," said Murray, who chairs the governor's STEM Advisory Council. "By partnering with the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, we are delivering resources for schools to invest in advanced equipment and supplies. Students will gain more hands-on experience in the classroom, further engaging them in STEM fields that will get them excited about future careers in innovative industries."

Nashoba Tech Superintendent Dr. Judith L. Klimkiewicz said the district has, for the past two decades, "changed our direction and mission to meet the highest skill standards of the global workplace."

"We are focused on creating the newest technical programs necessary to meet the needs of the commonwealth and the nation's growing science, health, human-services and biotechnology industries," she added. "We opened Engineering Technology 10 years ago and have continued to expand STEM education in all of our technical programs.

"Use of the equipment purchased through this grant will enable students in our health sciences, Engineering Technology and Advanced Placement biology programs to expand their core curricula to address specific mathematic and scientific concepts unique to biotechnology."

Gabriella White, Nashoba Tech's academic and testing coordinator, said students enrolled in the Engineering Technology program focus on core skills during freshman and sophomore years before branching out and specializing in different types of engineering starting in their junior year.

"The equipment and materials provided by this grant will expand these possibilities to include biotechnical engineering and biomedical devices," White said. "New equipment will also provide additional opportunities to our students enrolled in Advanced Placement biology as well as students who are enrolled in our Health Assisting and Dental Assisting programs, who will have an expanded choice of possible career pathways as they become more skilled in both breadth and depth of laboratory experiences."

She went on to say that those options could include biomechanics, cardiovascular engineering, genetic engineering, agricultural biotechnology, tissue engineering, biomedical devices, forensics and bioethics. Windham-Bannister said that as a resident of Carlisle, she lives close by Nashoba Tech's campus in Westford, and it has been "exciting to see it grow over the years."

"It's exciting and gratifying to see you get this grant," she said to Dr. Klimkiewicz.

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center was created by Gov. Deval Patrick's administration in 2008. The center's mission is to create jobs in the life sciences and support vital scientific research that will improve the human condition. The work includes making financial investments in public and private institutions that are advancing life-sciences research, development and commercialization, as well as building ties among sectors of the Massachusetts life-sciences community.

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