Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara joined officials from Mohonasen Central School District, Capital Region BOCES and Schenectady County Community College Monday, Dec. 21, to announce a $336,000 grant secured from his office that will help make the Center for Advanced Technology at Mohonasen a reality.

The announcement and check presentation were made at 1 p.m. at the Farnsworth Technology Center at Mohonasen High School (also referred to as the Large Group Instruction hall) and were followed by a media tour of the technology center’s construction site. The transformative state-of-the-art facility will house a variety of modern, high-tech labs and classrooms that will create 21st Century work environments in which students can learn.

Through a partnership with Capital Region BOCES and Schenectady County Community College, the new center at Mohonasen will also offer unique college-level classes to high school, college and workforce development students.

“Public education is a top priority for me, and as an engineer, I know first-hand the value of an education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” Assemblyman Santabarbara said. “This funding will allow this great community partnership of Mohonasen, Capital Region BOCES and SCCC to further their efforts to provide our children with a meaningful, experience-based education in the STEM fields and prepare them for a 21st Century workforce with the latest technology available. Our students are fortunate to have tech jobs waiting for them right here in the Capital Region, also known as the Tech Valley, and it’s important that we give them the tools they need to be successful as they begin to map out their future careers.”

The funds will be used to purchase modern technology such as specialized microscopes and other equipment for a unique-to-the-region Nanotech lab at the Center for Advanced Technology, which will be located at the district’s middle and high school campus.

“We are extremely appreciative of Assemblyman Santabarbara’s support in shepherding our grant application through the legislative process,” said Mohonasen Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Spring. “This funding will ensure our new nanotechnology lab is outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment to provide students with learning experiences that simulate ‘real-world’ work environment. The assemblyman’s assistance with this grant demonstrates his support of the mission of the new Center for Advanced Technology to prepare not only students of the Capital Region but also adults retooling for the changing workforce.”

Mohonasen Board of Education President Robert Piccirillo said, “We at Mohonasen have undertaken a bold venture to build a state-of-the-art technology training and education center for our students. Through state aid funding, voting support from our community and help from our legislators, including Assemblyman Santabarbara, this center is becoming a reality. We have partnered with SCCC and Capital Region BOCES to provide our students with the education and training necessary for the 21st century workforce.”