RICHLAND, Wash. -Delta High School's vision of the future has become clearer.
Bechtel National Wednesday turned over a check for $250,000 that will go toward replacing the STEM school's sixties-era buildings on its Richland campus.
Frank Russo, Bechtel project director, says the company considers the donation an investment in the future.
"Technology is what makes America great and will continue to do so. But for that to happen we have to have educated students who go out into the business world when they graduate and bring with them the knowledge to advance the nation," Russo says. "It's just without question the most important contribution we make in a year, any time any place."
Delta specializes in a science, technology, engineering, and math curriculum. The STEM School opened in the fall of 2009 with about 200 freshmen attending classes in hand-me-down buildings provided by Columbia Basin College. The school has grown to about 600 students, who study in cramp, and dated conditions.
"Even though we don't have a lot of kids, it's very cramp," says Sophomore Jessica Moss. "Especially our lunch room. We really don't have a lunch room, so stuff like that needs to be improved."
Administrators say they're close to raising $16,000,000 to build a new school at its present location on Northgate Street. Administrators say they are also confident the state legislature will approve funding for the STEM school in the current legislative session.
