BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Mosquitoes may not like Thermacell, but Bradford High School does.
The school received a $10,000 John Hainze Science Empowerment Fund, donated by mosquito-repellent company Thermacell, to be used toward its science program. Thermacell is in the process of opening a research facility in Hampton.
“It’s incredibly exciting,” BHS Principal Chris Coffey said. “Anytime we can partner with local businesses to help support what’s going on here in the schools is always appreciative. A donation of $10,000 is very significant for us and our budget here at the school. For the science department to receive this has opened a lot of opportunities for our students, which is exciting.”
Thermacell Formulation Science and Entomology Manager Jeff Hertz talked of the fund’s namesake, John Hainze, saying, “He’s one of our entomologists who has been around the company for a really, really long time. He recently retired. He basically led our science and research program up until recently.”
Hertz presented the check to Coffey during a May 10 ceremony in the BHS media center, with students in the first-year Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education Program in attendance.
Also in attendance were Thermacell was also represented by Fernando Castro, vice president of research, development and engineering, Becky Heinig, senior scientist–entomology programs, and T.J. Fedirko, biological technician.
Herz told the students that the Hampton facility will hopefully be completed by July or August.
“Like you, hopefully, we always want to learn more,” Hertz said. “There are many, many questions in science. That’s why the company is building this facility. We’re going to look at mosquito behaviors, specifically against our devices.”
William Vidal, a science teacher at BHS, described his feelings as “pure excitement” when he thinks of the opportunities the $10,000 donation will create.
“I think it’ll make a huge difference, giving us a little bit more of a means to provide more of those experiences that we should be (providing), being a science department,” Vidal said.
Vidal said the money will help build a laboratory curriculum and fund field trips.
“We’re trying to find appropriate ways to use the money and make it last and go as far as we can with it,” Vidal said.
Amy Prescott, who is one of BHS’ Cambridge AICE students, said science and other STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) courses are her passion, so knowing that the science program at BHS is getting $10,000 is “very, very exciting.”
“We’re so incredibly grateful for this opportunity to grow our science program and to help further our academic experience here at BHS,” Prescott, a sophomore, said. “We’re so excited to see what the future will hold.”
Coffey said the future should have more opportunities for Cambridge AICE students, thanks to Thermacell’s donation. He said students have taken a field trip to the University of Florida and have an upcoming field trip to Florida State University.
“That’s been exciting, but it’s also been challenging because we don’t have a lot of money to be able to do different things,” Coffey said, adding, “To get this (John Hainze Science Empowerment Fund) is going to help us provide some more opportunities next year, to really be able to branch out and do some cool stuff.”
That’s great news to someone like Prescott, who has already enjoyed her time as part of the Cambridge AICE Program.
“I’ve been given an opportunity to grow more than I would have without the Cambridge Program and to just gain some knowledge I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise,” Prescott said.
Hertz told the students that the Thermacell research center in Hampton may be able to provide volunteer opportunities and lab experiences in the future.
“You think of science being some big opportunity at other places, and you have to go away from home to learn these big things,” Prescott said. “Seeing how close (the Thermacell research center) is just changes that perspective.”
What Hertz said he’d really like to see is Thermacell helping students on their educational journeys and some of those students then working for Thermacell one day.
“Maybe we can make it full circle,” he said.
Hertz said if students gain lab experience at Thermacell, but do not go into a science-related field in college, they’ll still have received a benefit.
“Lab skills actually help for life,” Hertz said. “They teach you organization. They teach you to write clearly, to think clearly and to question things and find solutions. There are a lot of life skills in science that a lot of people don’t appreciate.”
Bradford County Assistant Superintendent of Schools Karen Clarke thanked the Thermacell representatives, saying, “Anytime we can develop business partnerships and collaborations within the community is just phenomenal and exponentially improves the experiences for our kids.”
Clarke said the school district strives to give its students “the latest and greatest kinds of things.” Having a business support that endeavor helps create more opportunities.
“You may not recognize it or realize it now,” Clarke told the Cambridge students, “but the benefit you guys will get from this $10,000 is going to be just amazing and provide an amazing experience for you.”
