High Tech High School receives $20k grant from Verizon schools program

High Tech High School in North Bergen received a $20,000 grant for their Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) program from Verizon’s Innovative Schools Program yesterday.

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

This award was presented to Hudson County Schools of Technology Superintendent Frank Gargiulo and High Tech High School Principal Dr. Joseph Giammarella by Verizon’s Director of External Affairs Mark Bocchieri at a ceremony yesterday.

“We are extremely proud of our teachers and students in our school’s STEM program,” Gargiulo said in a statement. “These students will be the scientists, engineers, and doctors of tomorrow, and this grant will further aid them in their career pursuits.”

The funds will be used to support High Tech’s “Project Lead the Way” curriculum, which aims to prepare students for the cutting edge careers of tomorrow with a particular focus on biomedical technologies.

“It is an honor to receive this grant from Verizon, it will only help to strengthen our STEM program curriculum and allow our students to learn in a more interactive approach, while allowing our teachers more resources to teach in an effective manner,” Giammarella added in the same statement.

This grant is part of a larger $100,000 award from the Verizon Innovative Schools Program, according to Bocchieri.

While the grant is very competitive and numerous schools apply for an award, only five schools are chosen throughout the state of New Jersey to receive the grant in a competitive application process that was spearheaded by HCST Board Secretary Joseph Muniz and his staff.

“We are so happy that our program was chosen for this grant,” stated Biology and Biomedical Science teacher Priscilla Isip.

“It will help with many aspects of our STEM program, including with equipment and field trips. In particular, we hope students can visit hospitals to meet with doctors and pathologists, as well as local police stations to meet with sheriffs and learn about their CSI investigations.”