South Fayette and Upper
St. Clair High School
Teams Collaborate with
Universal Electric
In 2014, South Fayette High School converted the popular
All-Clad after school to business partnership project into
an elective class now known as Innovation Studio. The
course provides students with the methods and
tools to solve real world problems for their regional,
national, and global business partners. Problem
solving methodologies include the scientific method,
the Universal System Model, the Engineering Design
Process, and Human Centered Design methods from the
LUMA Institute, and others. In addition, the most unique
aspect of the class is the cross-district partnerships that
have developed and grown in the past three years. The
Innovation Studio students transform into business
and technology consultants during the class and work
collaboratively on their business clients’ projects with
the Upper St. Clair and Mt. Lebanon high school teams.
On April 25, 2017, the South Fayette and Upper St. Clair
STEM Design Lab consultants presented their extensive
research based solutions to the executive staff at
Universal Electric Corporation at their Hendersonville
corporate headquarters. The project topics and related
solutions included Packaging and Injection Molding redesigns,
Supplier Quality Inspections enhancements, Improved Safety
Plans, and Mechanical Testing Improvements. Through
this authentic project based learning experience South
Fayette high school consultants, Casssandra Agostino,
Matt Antantis, Divya Bhakthavatchalam, Sarah Cefalo,
Taylor Delaney, Michael Kugler, Trevor Mahoney, Brayden
Marinack, Nathan Martinez, and Kyle Pschirer gained much
more than academic knowledge. They witnessed firsthand
what they will be experiencing in the real world post high
school regardless of where that next step will take them.
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