Area 30 programs receive grants from Mary Allison Children’s Trust

Area 30 Career Center Construction Equipment Operations program recipients include students (front, from left) Christian Montero, Jalen Berry, Dakota Campbell, Trey Adams, Michael Silcox, Gunnar Fuetter and Matthew Collier. In back (from left) are Mary Allison Children’s Trust Board of Directors members Ginger Scott, treasurer; Jim Jackson, president; Scott Livesay, CEO instructor; Mike Goss, vice president, and Donna House, secretary.

Courtesy photo

Beginning in the fall of 2016 the Mary Allison Children’s Trust Board of Directors began a projects program. Each semester the applications are distributed to the elementary schools to present a project to the projects committee.

Second Semester of 2018-19 recipients of the Projects Fund are Area 30 Career Center Construction Equipment Operations and Computer Systems Networking Programs for Augmented Realty Sandbox Project in the amount of $1,660.

Students from each program worked together to create the Augmented Realty Sandbox. An AR Sandbox allows students to create topography models by shaping real sand, which is then augmented in real time by an elevation color map, topographic contour lines and water.

Mary Allison Children’s Trust Board of Directors officers presenting the Area 30 Computer Systems Networking program with its grant check are (from left) Jim Jackson, president; Ginger Scott, treasurer; Scott Livesay, CEO instructor; Mike Goss, vice president; Donna Houser, secretary; Area 30’s Luke Stewart, CSN program, and Rubin Hinners, CSN instructor. Not pictured Levi Girton, CSN program.

Courtesy photo

Among other things, the AR Sandbox device gives students the opportunity to simulate and visualize how storm water flows between high and low elevations. Students had to design and construct the mobile station, build the computer and program the Linux based software to work with the repurposed Xbox Kinect camera system.

Applications for the 2019-20 first semester will be distributed to the schools in August at the beginning of the school. Elementary schools are the board’s primary focus; however middle schools and high schools are also welcome to apply for project funding.

Applications may be obtained by calling 765-655-2333 or email gscott@wabashcapital.com