EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Ben Eielson High School won the 5th Annual Follett Challenge; which earned the school a total of $60,000.
The Follett Challenge seeks innovative school programs that teach necessary skills to students. BEHS’s video submission featured its STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program and the unique opportunities it affords students.
“It gives the students a foundation,” said Rex Legrand, a STEM teacher at BEHS. “It allows them to experience work centers in a hands-on way.”
The STEM program allows students to participate in pre-apprenticeships with different career fields on the base. Students can learn aircraft maintenance from the Eielson maintainers, or spend the day in the clinic learning about dental or medical procedures.
Winning the money allows the school to purchase products and services from Follett, enhancing technology and library resources.
“It gives the school more money to expand,” said Brooke Kriesel, a senior at BEHS. “It’s going to give students greater opportunities to prepare for the future.”
LeGrand expressed hope that the upgrades will help spread the word about the great things the high school is doing for its students.
“We just want to express how thankful we are to Follett and our librarian, Nancy Woodward,” said LeGrand. “Without them, the opportunities STEM provides might not advance as quickly as we’d like.”