Partners broaden education of TVHS students
02.12.10
Tech Valley High School was created in part to provide students an education that prepares them for the world beyond high school - whether it is at a university or in a workforce. There is perhaps no better way to ensure students are prepared for those challenges than involving business leaders, researchers and college officials in their education.
During the past two weeks at TVHS, representatives of several Capital Region institutions have visited TVHS or hosted TVHS students, including RPI, Kinentia, Global Foundries, members of the Albany-Colonie and Schenectady chambers of commerce and Empire Solar Store. Additionally Vietnam Veteran Randy Kautto spoke to students on two occasions.
"Collaboration with businesses is an integral part of the education at Tech Valley High because it allows us to share with the students why it is important to learn what we are teaching and how they will use the new skills they are learning," said Principal Dan Liebert. "This is truly an unprecedented partnership we have formed."
While the Kinentia officials showed TVHS sophomores on Monday how the company is working on a developing compounds that may cure leukemia and psoriasis, representatives of all TVHS grades showcased for the chambers of commerce what they are learning at TVHS, how it is different from traditional schools ,and how it will prepare them to address the future demands of the region's employers. The chamber representatives were at TVHS taking part in a forum on future technology related jobs in the region that was hosted jointly by the University at Albany East Campus and Tech Valley High School.
Meanwhile, Rodney Wiltshire, owner of the Empire Solar Store in Troy spoke to freshman on Friday about the need to switch to renewable supplies of energy and RPI doctoral students spent a part of Monday conducting hands-on workshops for the freshman on fuel cells, showing students how to create hydrogen and solar fuel cells and how they work.
Veteran Randy Kautto recounted tales of Vietnam on Thursday and again on Tuesday and the struggles he had readjusting to civilian life after the war for juniors who are conducting research into the impact of war on veterans, while Global Foundries executives spent part of Wednesday learning about TVHS and how the school may provide future Global Foundries workers from students and school leaders.
The flurry of activity at TVHS followed a January in which every student spent at least part of the month interning at area businesses and institutions, from St. Peter's Hospital to IBM and the Einhorn Yaffee Prescott Architecture & Engineering firm.
