New Hardware … and Business Skills for Upper Dublin Students

The Upper Dublin High School recently purchased a milling machine and a 3D printer — both of which are commercial-grade items — for the school’s new Business Entrepreneurship Program. The school purchased the items with the help of a $10,000 donation from Ambler Savings Bank.

According to Upper Dublin Education Foundation Board Member Pam Ryan, the bank had been looking to donate money to the education foundation as part of the state’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, which rewards businesses that donate to approved educational improvement organizations, like the Upper Dublin Education Foundation.

“They approached us last spring and were contemplating getting involved with the program,” Ryan said. “They were saying, ‘Hey, if we donate money, what programs would it go to and would it be aligned with the mission of the bank?’” 

The school didn’t exactly have any programs tailored to business skills, so with the help of allied arts teacher Jann Maclean, the high school recently launched the Business Entrepreneurship program, which, according to Ryan, gives students the experience of developing, operating and managing a business enterprise from start to finish. The program encompasses several classes and disciplines, ranging from business to marketing to finance. Students are able to manufacture products using the new equipment, sell them in the school store and strive to be profitable. The mock businesses fully design and promote the products, reacting to fluctuations in the market. Business class participants manage the accounting and finances of the enterprise.

Ryan said the money for the equipment came through in September, the school placed the order in November and the mill and the 3D printer have been up and running since January. 

“It’s the only non-commercial place that has equipment this complicated,” Ryan said. “You should see some of the things they students have created. It’s so cool.”