BOURBON — Triton School Corporation joins several dozen other school systems in Indiana in being acknowledged for stellar accomplishments in educating students in the age of technology.

The Indiana Department of Education announced last week that 27 school systems are recipients of the state’s Office of eLearning’s 2018 Digital Learning Grants. This year’s grants offer up to $75,000 in support for districts developing a new focus for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics instruction, or computer science, within their existing digital learning environment. For Triton, the award was nearly the maximum amount.

According to Triton Superintendent Jeremy Riffle, Triton received $73,917.00 and earned the money for programs throughout all levels of the school district.

“Thank you to Melissa LaShure, Matt Arveson, and Christine Cook for their effort on writing, and organizing the grant information to ensure we had the best possible opportunity to succeed,” Riffle said, adding that the grant request was a collaborative effort between the junior-senior high school and the elementary school.

“I would put our staff, their heart, passion, and willingness to build relationships up with anyone around,” he said. “They want to grow and continue to refine their craft for the betterment of our school, community and world.”

Riffle said receiving the grant will further bolster Triton’s ongoing education efforts.

“It continues to put resources and tools in the hands of our students to continue to supplement the already outstanding instruction that is taking place on a daily basis,” he said.

At the high school, Riffle said the grant “will allow us to continue to add resources to our strong Project Lead the Way engineering by adding professional development  for the design development training,” he said. Other items to supplement instruction include roboitics equipment, milling machine tools, robotics arm kits, manufacturing materials, a laser cutter/engraver and 23 desktop computers.

At the elementary school, the grant will finance the purchase of 90 Chromebooks, three carts, appropriate licensing and teacher devices for Project Lead the Way.

“Maintaining a focus on STEM activities in today’s educational environment is vital to preparing students for their future success,” said Dr. Jennifer McCormick, Superintendent of Public Instruction. “I congratulate the awarded districts as I know they will use this grant to continue making a positive impact in their communities.”