Charlottesville Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC) received a new industrial band saw courtesy of the Edgar and Eleanor Shannon Foundation on Wednesday, September 5, 2023. CATEC’s Carpentry program was awarded a $5,000 grant to purchase the sophisticated equipment that increases students’ opportunities to use real-world tools.
The Level 2 grant allowed Carpentry instructor Darrell Morris to purchase a Grizzly Industrial, Inc. 24-Inch Industrial Band Saw that can cut wood and metal products, offering students more flexibility, precision, and professional application of their carpentry skills. Morris says the addition of the band saw in his lab makes for endless project ideas, including furniture, cabinets, and other objects of irregular shape. He says, “This band saw can be used for complex projects that allows students more control of their product, reducing material waste and saving money.”
Additionally, because the saw cuts metal, other CATEC programs like Electricity and Automotive Technology can use it. Once students are given their safety tutorial of the new equipment, Morris says the band saw will be used so CATEC students can create unique projects for the community.
The Shannon Foundation exists to help outstanding public school educators in the City of Charlottesville and County of Albemarle model and inspire a love of learning in their classrooms. The Foundation awards competitive grants to teachers to support innovative classroom projects that stay with children for a lifetime.