Poudre School District was awarded $90,000 by the OtterCares Foundation to spur innovation in schools.
Seven schools will split the money to enhance engineering curriculums for students. Poudre High School got the largest slice of the pie with a grant of $36,000. Teachers plan to put that money toward nine new 3D printers and a 'makerspace' for everyone to use in the school's library.
"We hope to prepare our students not to be passive observers of technological trends," said Tech Ed. teacher Josh Weissman. "We want our students to be active leaders of building the future of tomorrow."
The school hopes to spur student involvement in science, technology, engineering and math.
"It could be a great recruiting tool for our program," said Weissman.
Weissman's class already uses some 3D printers and technology to create things in class. There are only three printers currently at the school, the added nine printers will make building designs much more accessible.
"It's really great. It's a great opportunity," said Calvin Spangler Young, a junior at PHS. "You get to learn really fast. We have an intense build season and it's so intense that prepares for the classes that you take here or the real world."
The 3D printers are ordered and on the way to the school. They should be set up in the next few weeks.
A video and audio studio will also be added as a result of the grants.
Four elementary schools will also be adding 'Makerspaces to their schools.