BALLSTON SPA — The students from the Clean Technologies and Sustainable Industries Early College High School (Clean Tech ECHS) in Malta recently participated in a series of regional manufacturing tours and activities with industry partners as part of National Manufacturing Month. Throughout the first week of October, juniors participated in tours across the region, including RASP Inc., located in Gansevoort, to learn about industrial controls manufacturing; Greno Industries in Schenectady to learn about the manufacturing process of machined parts including CNC precision machining; and P1 Package One Industries in Schenectady to learn about advanced manufacturing, design and engineering. The Center for Economic Growth (CEG) and the Clean Tech ECHS partnered on a manufacturing industry challenge that was presented to 11th and 12th grade students on October 3. CEG kicked off the event with a presentation about recycling and refining waste material in manufacturing and challenged students to identify solutions. Following the presentation, students investigated and developed solutions for reusing food and glass materials. Some students will continue to develop solutions as part of their Capstone Projects and will present them at the Grade Student Project Exhibition to parents, business partners and civic leaders later this semester. The Clean Tech ECHS was developed in 2011 by the Ballston Spa Central School District in partnership with Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The program continues to leverage its relationship with over 45 leaders in business and industry, the New York State Education Department (NYSED), the State University of New York (SUNY) and HVCC to provide authentic learning experiences for students. The program has grown regionally from originally serving 25 students in two school districts, to now serving over 260 students from across 19 school districts in ten counties. Students in the program earn up to 30 college credits from HVCC in this ECHS model. Students have the option to explore one of four career pathways including Clean Energy, Computer Science & Information Systems, Mechatronics, and Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Innovation. For more information about the Clean Tech ECHS, visit the website at www.bscsd.org/ cleanTech.cfm or please contact ECHS Coordinator Adrienne Snow at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 518-321-7274.
