Marlborough – Assabet Valley Regional Technical high School welcomed Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito for a celebration of the first annual Mass. STEM Week and ribbon-cutting Oct. 23. STEM week is dedicated to raising awareness of science, technology, engineering, and math education. This is an initiative to highlight the connection of strong STEM education to a talented and skilled workforce by Governor Charlie Baker and Polito, in collaboration with the STEM Advisory Council.
Polito and approximately 50 attendees including state legislators, local business/industry leaders, local officials, program advisory members, School Committee members, student leaders, faculty, staff and administration were welcomed to Assabet’s student-run Epicurean Restaurant.
Polito toured the Advanced Manufacturing and Metal Fabrication programs to unveil the new equipment received through the Skills Capital Grant program, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. She spoke with current students and had hands-on experience with the new equipment. Polito expressed the importance of closing the skills gap in Massachusetts and how the advanced skills learned at Assabet will provide them with a skill set like no other.
In October 2017, Assabet received a third grant award of $499,388 in support of the Advanced Manufacturing program to purchase 16 new CNC/Manual lathes. In March a new grant request proposal was submitted through this program for support of the Advanced Manufacturing, Metal Fabrication/Welding, Pre-Engineering and Drafting and Engineering Design programs through the acquisition of two laser cutting/marking machines, one fiber laser marking machine and six virtual reality welding machines. On June 21, Assabet was awarded a $497,000 grant, making the total received through the Skills Capital Grant Program $1,453,898.