Mars Planet Foundation has received a $10,000 donation from MSA Safety Inc. to benefit Mars Area School District’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering Art, Mathematics) and Technology Education programs.

At Mars Area High School (Grades 9-12), the funding will be used to purchase a Sublimation Printer and Mug Press for the school’s Graphic Design Course as well as materials for land transportation and robotic arm projects; a 3-D printer, and Aspire CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) Software to be implemented in the school’s Technology Education classes.

Mars Area Middle School (7-8) will use the funding to purchase a class set of iPads for use in the school’s Technology Education and Programming classes. Students will use the iPads to design, build and program Sphero robots through the Sphero Edu App; to complete an App Development project using App Lab in Code.org; and to create student-driven videos related to school activities and events.

Mars Area Centennial School (5-6) plans to use the funding to purchase a second 3-D printer for the school’s STEAM classroom; 3-D printer filament; 3-D pens to enable students to expand upon their CAD (Computer-Aided Design) creations; and carts to store STEAM resources. The new materials will enable students to engineer and manufacture parts and prototypes for their robotic creations that are compatible with the school’s Sphero and Hummingbird robotics kits.

At Mars Area Elementary School (2-4), the funding will be used to purchase 3-D pens and replacement filament as well as 3-D design mats and power strip towers. The 3-D pens will offer a new opportunity for students to learn about the core aspects of 3-D design, which is currently taught through cardboard construction, attachment techniques and LEGO design.

The donation was made through the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC), which offers a tax credit to eligible businesses that contribute cash, personal property, and/or services to an approved Educational Improvement Organization (EIO), such as Mars Planet Foundation, or to another approved scholarship organization.

For more information, call (724) 625-1518, ext. 1524.