EnergyPartners Fund Grant Awarded

Over the past few years, our Engineering Academy has maintained a good relationship with the EnergyPartners Fund, a local nonprofit organization aimed at boosting STEM education in the Central Coast area. Several local energy companies pool their resources to provide much-needed help to schools and clubs and individuals.

Mr. Meadth, Megan, Tys, and Kylie proudly pose

Once again this year, our very own Academy students put their heads together to write a grant proposal for one of our upcoming projects. The request was for a set of quadcopter drone kits, which our students will purchase and build and modify later in this year, as part of their studies in aerodynamics and flight. One of the energy companies in particular, E & B Resources, picked up our project with interest, as they would like to use drones in the future to monitor their pipelines and properties. This is a growing trend in oil and gas industries, as companies strive to use technology to become more efficient.

Mr. Meadth, Kylie, Megan, and Tys listen to Amy Roth read out

their project description

 
Kylie, Megan, and Tys went along with Mr. and Mrs. Meadth to the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, where Amy Roth from E & B awarded the students with the requested funds. She also extended an invitation to the students to bring their drones, when completed, up to the company operations in Cuyama to put them through some in-field operations!

The gang poses in front of an antique diving suit

Thank you to all students who helped write this grant, and to the three who were able to attend. The Providence Engineering Academy is very grateful to the EnergyPartners Fund, and specifically to E & B Resources. And you can be sure that we'll publish more about the drone project in second semester, so stay tuned!

Extracurricular research at the Maritime Museum