Mr. Brian Tennal with Clinton High School is pleased to announce he has received a $4,500 STEM grant from the Toshiba America Foundation (TAF). These funds will support the Student-Engineered Hydroponic Labs for Landless Medicinal Botany Project.
Students at Clinton High School are taking agriculture to the next level with the launch of the Hydroponic Lab for Landless Medicinal Botany. This innovative project, designed and executed entirely by the Project Botany class, offers a sustainable solution for cultivating medicinal herbs in environments where traditional gardening is not an option.
Recognizing the challenges of urban living, such as limited outdoor space in apartments, students will engineer a specialized hydroponic system that allows for the cultivation of therapeutic plants without the need for soil or land. The initiative focuses on growing a variety of medicinal herbs intended for daily wellness use, providing a living wellness center that can be replicated in small indoor spaces.
Unlike traditional lab setups, this project will be designed from the ground up by the students of the Project Botany class. From the initial engineering of the hydroponic rigs to the selection of botanical species and nutrient balancing, the lab serves as a testament to student agency and technical skill.
This project provides a dual benefit to the school’s community. It offers hands-on experience in advanced agricultural engineering, botany, and wellness education, preparing them for future careers in biotechnology and sustainable farming. The lab serves as a collaborative resource and a living green teaching tool that can be integrated across various curricula, from science to health.
"This lab isn't just about growing plants; it's about engineering solutions for a changing world," says Mr. Tennal. "By focusing on medicinal botany in a landless format, our students are learning how to bring health and sustainability into even the smallest homes."
Toshiba America Foundation’s grants fund projects designed by individual classroom teachers. This “direct-to-teacher” approach brings immediate results. Teachers are able to change the way they teach Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects because the grant supports equipment for hands-on experiments and inquiry-based approaches to the curriculum. At TAF, we believe that STEM is a lot more fun than just reading a textbook. TAF grants provide teachers with the tools they need to be more effective educators. The grants make the classroom a more exciting place for both teachers and students.
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About Toshiba America Foundation
Founded in 1990 with support from Toshiba Corporation and the Toshiba America Group Companies, Toshiba America Foundation (TAF) is a non-profit grant making organization dedicated to helping classroom teachers make STEM learning fun and successful for K to 12 students in U.S. schools. TAF grants support public and nonprofit private schools throughout the United States. For more information, please visit: www.toshiba.com/taf.