outh Fayette
SOUTH FAYETTE TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
South Fayette High School and All-Clad Metalcrafters Celebrate 10 Years of Collaboration and Project- Based Learning
Ten years ago, a partnership began between South Fayette Township School District and All-Clad Metalcrafters, the Canonsburg-based company known internationally as a leader in high-end cookware. The goal was to create an afterschool program where students could learn engineering and design skills through real-world experiences. The program now known as the Innovation Studio class has enabled hundreds of students to gain firsthand experience working to solve challenges and create innovative products. It’ s also become a national model for project-based learning.
Over the past decade, South Fayette High School student teams have taken on the role of business consultants, and teachers become facilitators as they transform their classrooms into think tanks. The teams are presented with numerous projects each year and collectively choose the five or six they will work on during the nine-week timeframe. After a tour of the All-Clad factory and in-depth presentations by Bill Groll, Vice President of Research and Development; John Watkins, Manager, Strategic Business Development; and numerous engineering and marketing / sales professionals, the student consultants begin their work on the solutions for their projects.
The projects have ranged from packaging and cookware redesign, marketing, and ideas for the future of cookware, storage and employee safety, to production line upgrades and effective use of robotic equipment, to name a few. At the end of the nine weeks the team known as the South Fayette Technology Consultants present their findings to All-Clad executives at a celebratory event. Each of these projects offers students the opportunity to work with professional mentors to overcome challenges with fresh and innovative approaches.
The 2008 team consisted of eight members with only one female involved. Since that inaugural group, female participation has steadily increased. In 2014, the team was comprised of twice as many females than males. The district is proud of this growth as it aligns with the U. S. Department of Labor and Industry’ s objective to increase the number of girls in STEM / STEAM-related education and career fields.
With the success of the All-Clad partnership, the district has been afforded the opportunity to collaborate on additional authentic project-based learning activities with Siemens Corp., UPMC, Calgon Carbon, LANXESS, Alcosan, Sim Opps, YMCA’ s Deer Valley, the Energy Innovation Center, EA Fab, Universal Electric, and most recently Covestro and NiSource.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of this collaborative effort, South Fayette High School hosted a recognition and reception in our new Innovation Hub. Several alumni and current students from the Innovation Studio class attended the event. Teachers Brian Garlick and Tom Isaac spoke of how their class has grown from a small group of just eight students to 45. Bill Groll was presented with a plaque featuring images of the student consultants over the last decade.
Former superintendent Dr. Bille Rondinelli also received a plaque and an All-Clad pan engraved by South Fayette students using a laser engraver installed in the new Fab Lab, recognizing her years of service and leadership to South Fayette and ongoing support for project-based learning initiatives.
“ Nothing happens without the generous help of others. Our district is indebted to All-Clad for its years of mentorship and guidance. Our students have benefitted immensely from this partnership and I hope All-Clad has found it to be useful as well. I am also grateful for the dedication of Mr. Garlick and Mr. Isaac who have made this partnership such an outstanding success,” said Dr. Rondinelli.
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From top photo: Tom Isaac, science teacher at South Fayette High School, is assisted by Jacqueline Witwicki, South Fayette graduate who participated in the All-Clad program for four years, and Mike Kuglar, SFHS senior and All-Clad team member, in presenting the memorial plaque to Bill Groll, VP, Research and Development, All-Clad Metalcrafters, Inc.
Bill Groll, John Watkins, Manager, Strategic Business Development, and Jean Stewart, Senior Research Engineer of All-Clad Metalcrafters celebrating 10 years of the SFSD and All-Clad partnership.
Former SFSD superintendent Dr. Bille Rondinelli receiving her memorial plaque from past and present All-Clad student team members in appreciation for her leadership and encouragement for these authentic project-based learning experiences.