DANBURY — Some people may think high school students cannot build a fully functional computer.

However, one of Immaculate High School’s Foundations in Education Innovation and Leadership Grants is going to help students do just that. The school is proud to announce that four teachers received these prestigious grants this year. From a medical mannequin to sewing machines to student created computers, these awards will allow Mustangs to explore new areas and help others.

Head of School Wendy Neil said that their goal is to stay on the cutting edge and always look for ways to innovate in our curriculum.

"Immaculate’s teachers do that consistently and I’m thrilled that they earned these esteemed grants," Neil said.

This year’s winning Immaculate grant proposals are: "Building the Basics: Student-Created Computers from Scratch" - Anthony D’Ausilio ($5,278 award), "CNA Laboratory Medical Mannequin" - Marie Hatcher ($4,151 award), and "Stitching Knowledge, One Thread at a Time!" - Dr. Stephanie Rugg and Celeste Andrei ($1,134 award).

The computer grant will give students the unique opportunity to assemble and program a fully functional, breadboarded computer based on the 6502 microprocessor. This is a foundational step toward a career in engineering, computer science, and related fields by equipping students with the critical thinking and technical skills they will need in college and beyond.

"This initiative will provide students with a collegiate-level laboratory, enabling them to construct computers from the chip level upward, fostering a profound comprehension of the core principles of computer design," said D’Ausilio.

The mannequin grant for Immaculate’s Certified Nursing Assistants will mark an important milestone in the growth of this program, which currently serves 26 students.

Marie Hatcher, the CNA instructor who helps students become certified by the state of Connecticut, said that she was very happy to receive the funding for a new medical mannequin for their Certified Nursing Assistant Laboratory. Immaculate CNA students work in area nursing homes and many pursue careers in the medical profession.

"This will greatly enhance learning and will enable us to become our own testing center for all the students when they take their Prometric Certification Tests," Hatcher said.

The final grant, awarded to Dr Stephanie Rugg and Celeste Andrei, will help Mustangs learn how to use sewing machines. They believe this will teach students patience and perseverance - as they make heart-shaped pillows to support the charity Matthew’s Hearts of Hope.

Foundations in Education Inc is an independent non-profit initiative created to assist the Diocese of Bridgeport’s ongoing mission to support Catholic education in Fairfield County. The grant program, now in its eighth year, promotes excellence in Catholic education by supporting teachers’ creative projects, innovation, and professional development. Grants funded through this program are designed to support transformative initiatives that benefit multiple grade levels and have a lasting impact on student learning.