Keefe Technical To Purchase 3-D Printer With STEM Grant Funds

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center awarded almost $800,000 to high schools and colleges, including about $100,000 to Joseph P. Keefe Regional Technical School in Framingham, which will use the money to purchase a 3-D printer.

“This grant is going to make education better for our kids,” said State Rep. Tom Sannicandro, a Democrat from Ashland, who also represents Framingham.

“This is cutting edge stuff. For kids to have this learning opportunity is going to carry them for their entire lifetimes, and we’re going to get paid back 10-fold in this investment in these kids with the kinds of innovations that they create for us in the future. We couldn’t be making a better investment than in these kids today,” said Sannicandro.

“The jobs of the future depend on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math skills,” said Sen. Karen Spilka, who represents Framingham. “This grant supports innovative hands-on STEM experiences for MetroWest kids. We need to do as much as we can to engage our students and prepare them to compete in the 21st century workforce.”

Keefe Technical School will receive $98,820 and provide funding to expand and enhance laboratory space in the school. Updated technology will increase the level of “hands-on” experiences for students, including the use of a 3-D printer for its “Project Lead the Way” pre-engineering program.

This project represents the district’s most significant commitment to STEM education.

The new offerings will introduce students to the fields of biomedical engineering, bio-molecular genetics and bioprocess engineering.

Keefe students, who come from Ashland, Framingham Holliston, Natick, and Hopkinton, will have the opportunity to explore biological and engineering concepts relevant to future careers in the life sciences.

“Not only will the students at Joseph P. Keefe Technical School in Framingham benefit from the grant which will enable them to learn with state of the art equipment, but the Commonwealth as a whole will benefit.” said Rep. Chris Walsh, who represents Framingham. “The grant will afford the students training in the emerging fields of biomedical engineering, bio-molecular genetics and bioprocess engineering which will help meet workforce needs in the future.”

The STEM Equipment and Supplies Grant Program, launched in 2011, has previously awarded more than $8.4 million to 61 different high schools and organizations throughout Massachusetts and leveraged more than $1 million in matching funds from the life sciences industry.

“Massachusetts’ flourishing life sciences community has created opportunities and spurred economic growth in every region of the state,” said Governor Charlie Baker, in a written statement.

“These grants from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center will further strengthen our workforce in order to meet the needs of this growing industry through enhanced training facilities and programs at our middle schools and high schools,” wrote Baker.

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center is an investment agency that supports life sciences innovation, research, development and commercialization. The Center is charged with implementing a 10-year, $1-billion, state-funded investment initiative.

­­