In the 2022-23 school year, Incline Education Fund (IEF) was proud to announce the receipt of a $50,000 grant from the Washoe County Reinvestment Grant Program. This funding supported the acquisition of cutting-edge equipment for the newly established Engineering & Entrepreneurship program at Incline High School. The program is designed to equip students with the skills needed for a STEM-focused college degree or even an entry-level STEM career right after graduation.
Taught by Washoe County School District veteran instructor Adam Shoda, the Engineering & Entrepreneurship program provides students with an immersive learning experience. Mr. Shoda, who brings 20 years of teaching expertise to the classroom, previously led the Aerospace Engineering program at the Galena High School STEM Academy. The program follows the Project Lead the Way Aerospace Engineering curriculum and is structured around a Simulated Workplace (SR) classroom management model. Students also have the opportunity to engage in advanced studies through the Engineering Design and Development course, a challenging 4th-year elective that allows students to apply their skills in real-world design and problem-solving scenarios.
The Engineering & Entrepreneurship program provides students with a broad skillset that prepares them for future careers in engineering or as young entrepreneurs. Through hands-on learning and problem-solving projects, students gain foundational knowledge in engineering concepts while developing critical thinking and analytical skills.
The aerospace engineering pathway, in particular, equips students with the expertise to excel in any engineering field. The curriculum is designed to engage students with practical challenges that require innovative solutions, fostering a deep understanding of engineering principles.
Thanks to the generous grant from Washoe County, IEF was able to purchase essential equipment for the program, including 3D printers, laser cutters, and an engraver. With access to this advanced technology, students will master a variety of skills such as 3D modeling and printing, Photoshop essentials, large-format printing, UV printing. The program has also received a flight simulator to support the aerospace instruction.
By working with these industry-standard tools, students gain hands-on experience that complements their formal education. This combination of technical proficiency and entrepreneurial exposure opens doors for students to become skilled makers and creative problem solvers, and gives them the potential to pursue their own entrepreneurial ventures.This engineering and entrepreneurship program was a key driver behind the recent OSIT STEM Designation of Incline High School as a STEM school.
The establishment of the Engineering & Entrepreneurship program played a pivotal role in Incline High School’s recent recognition as a STEM-designated school by the Nevada Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation & Technology. This prestigious designation highlights the school’s commitment to providing students with a rigorous and forward-thinking education that prepares them for success in the rapidly evolving world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Last year, the IHS engineering class won a Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam grant to develop a snow load detection system for Lake Tahoe. Students got to work closely with an MIT fellow to design and develop their invention to address the challenges posed by heavy snow loads on rooftops.
Incline High is one of only eight teams nationwide awarded this grant and were invited to present their prototype at MIT’s EurekaFest that June.