Mesalands provides laptop computers to local schools

December 2, 2013

Mesalands Community College recently sent five laptop computers to Grady Municipal Schools, House Municipal Schools, and Logan Municipal Schools. This technology was funded through the U.S Department of Education – Hispanic Serving Institution’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) grant the College received in 2012. The addition of these computers is intended to meet one of the main objectives of the STEM program at Mesalands, which is to improve student access and success in STEM education. Mesalands ultimately wants to assist area high school students with online and dual credit course acquisition.

(Right) Anna Hibner, Registrar and Dennis Roch, Superintendent, both from Logan Municipal Schools, check out the new laptop computer recently delivered by Janice Aragon, STEM Project Director at Mesalands.

“We are very happy that through federal grant money provided by the Department of Education, we are able to assist our local high schools in meeting some of their technology needs,” said Dr. Thomas W. Newsom, President of Mesalands.

With the STEM grant, Mesalands has the opportunity to respond to an identified need for employment-related STEM education by improving, laboratory facilities, and distance learning access. Electronic delivery of STEM courses will provide access for students who cannot afford to live away from home, or commute to the Mesalands campus. These three school districts will also provide community points of access to technology for community members enrolled in online courses through Mesalands.

“Logan students are always clamoring for additional higher-level dual credit enrollment opportunities. These computers are going to open the door to increases in just those kinds of opportunities,” said Dennis Roch, Superintendent of Logan Municipal Schools. “We are excited about this partnership and we very much appreciate Mesalands Community College considering and including Logan Schools and our students in this program.”

Roch states that he anticipates that Logan students will use these laptop computers to take distance education courses through Mesalands, such as College Algebra, Trigonometry, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Information Systems, and possibly some new disciplines in the future.

Other area school districts may also receive new equipment as funds become available through the STEM grant.