Lynwood Unified School District opened the doors to a new state-of-the-art Health and Biomedical Sciences Classroom and Lab at Marco Antonio Firebaugh High School during an Oct. 12 ribbon-cutting event, celebrating increased opportunities for scholars to explore the District’s Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways and pursue STEM careers.
After being welcomed to the festive site by the Fighting Falcon Brigade and Firebaugh cheerleaders, guests learned about the District’s investment in improving collaborative educational environments and providing students with the necessary tools to push the boundaries of knowledge for all Lynwood Unified students. Following the program, guests toured the new modular facility and saw the aspiring healthcare professionals engage in patient care.
“This is an exciting day for students like me to know that Firebaugh Falcons will be able to explore the biomedical sciences field and deepen our understanding of these subjects using cutting-edge equipment and technology,” student Crystal Vo said. “I am grateful to our Lynwood Unified leaders for empowering future generations of students to help contribute to groundbreaking discoveries in the STEM world.”
Students in the program will enjoy hands-on innovative learning tools and modernized equipment to explore topics within the school’s biomedical science and nursing CTE pathway, including human medicine, physiology, genetics, microbiology and public health. It will also allow Firebaugh to increase enrollment in its advanced manufacturing and engineering program. Those programs previously shared a space, limiting activities and projects.
Students in CTE programs, which use the Project Lead the Way framework, engage in hands-on learning to support their college and career aspirations. Programs typically require a four-year sequence of classes that end with a capstone project and an opportunity to earn industry-recognized certifications prior to graduation.
The Measure K project was funded through state grants from the Career Technical Education Facilities Program and the Office of Public School Construction. The District also secured a $225,000 donation from the W. M. Keck Foundation thanks to the Lynwood Partners Educational Foundation.
“This biomedical sciences facility is a testament to Lynwood Unified’s commitment to nurturing future leaders in the fields of healthcare, medicine and life sciences and other career technical pathways that will ensure they thrive now and in the future,” Superintendent Gudiel R. Crosthwaite, Ph.D., said. “We are proud to unlock potential for all LUSD scholars and empower them to develop the skills needed for success in high-demand fields and industries.''