Academy Technology Engineering Math and Science at the Lift in Abilene, Texas on DonorsChoose

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The printer is a tangible bridge between the digital world of code and the physical world we inhabit.\r\n\r\nThe most exciting aspect of the Elegoo 3D printer for our students is its speed and ease of use. The high-speed printing capabilities of the printer mean they can quickly turn a digital design into a physical prototype. This rapid turnaround allows them to experiment with multiple design iterations in a single class period, which keeps their momentum and excitement high.\r\n\r\nThank you again for providing this incredible resource. It has truly elevated the learning experience for all our students and is helping us prepare them for a future where technology and innovation are a part of every industry. We are incredibly grateful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1746843138280,"projectUrl":"project/vape-sensor-cases/9076447/","projectTitle":"Vape Sensor Cases","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Kaplinski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9782248_orig.png?crop=1501,1501,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1737581176690","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9782248"},{"teacherId":9815686,"projectId":8951541,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for contributing to our drones program here at school. We are building a 3 year program where students learn everything there is to know about drones. Students start off in year one, learning about how drones work, the physics of flying, what drones are made of, and what they are used for. It is a basic survey course where students also learn the history of aviation and unmanned flying. Students also get their first taste of flight as they start practicing in multiple different simulator softwares. Students can see the difference between a cinematography drone and a racing drone, and everything in between.\r\n\r\nIn the second year, students prepare to take the FAA Part 107 Commercial Drone Pilot certification. This is a tough course that puts students through the wringer to learn all of the federal rules and regulations to be able to fly a drone commercially. It is a very tough test that students must prepare for. In this class students also learn how to program and fly drones autonomously. We need something fun for the students to do since they are studying so hard! This is where the grant comes into play. I ask the students to start thinking up a design for a custom drone they would like to build. When the students are done preparing and testing for their FAA certification, we start on the project, which is where this grant comes in.\r\n\r\nClosing out year two and moving into year three, the students start focusing on building their own drone. We start off with this kit, so the students can build a functioning do-it-yourself model, which gives them a great starting point to start designing their own custom designs. Year three of my drones program would not exist in the way it is without your kind donations. Thank you so much for having a major impact on my students!","fullyFundedDate":1738792580473,"projectUrl":"project/taking-flight-with-student-built-drones/8951541/","projectTitle":"Taking Flight with Student Built Drones","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hope","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9815686"},{"teacherId":9823667,"projectId":8915215,"letterContent":"This year I was able to raise money for the purchase of a classroom set of Lab Sensors for my classroom. Unfortunately, Carolina was unable to supply me with these sensors and so I was forced to by other materials with the money. I promise that I did not let this money go to waste.\r\nWith your funds I was able to buy monitor stands for the simulators in my aerospace engineering class. Before the purchase of these stands, these monitors were perched precariously on top of TV dinner tables in my engineering lab for the last 4 years. Now they are securely attached to stands and my children are not afraid to bump into them inadvertently anymore. In addition, I was able to get new surge protectors for these computers and I no longer have smaller surge protecters daisy chained together to provide power. My engineering lab is a much safer environment for my students now.\r\nIn my physics classroom I was able to purchase several quality-of-life purchases that have already been amazing. My first purchase was for next year when we incorporate the yonder bags, I was able to find 8 Lovino tablets that I could disable the web browser and google play store on, and then use AppBlocker to restrict access to the settings tab. I now can continue to use video analysis and \"every circuit\" with my students in my labs without worrying about what other webpages they are going to.\r\nI was then able to take the leftover money and purchase a few more things that will help immensely. First, a stand for my tablets, so that I can conduct demonstrations, while streaming the demonstration to my big board so that everyone can see it. Then I purchased 8 resonance tubes, so that my students could get more precise measures while performing my sound labs. I also purchased 3 more lens and mirror sets so that my students no longer had to take turns while doing by lens and mirror lab. However, what I am most excited about is the purchase of 16 magnets... I had never been able to purchase magnets before... I have magnets now, I am speechless.\r\nThe last thing that I purchased was a roll of whiteboard wallpaper. I have only one white board in my classroom. I was able to turn my cabinet doors into whiteboards with this product... My room already works better.\r\nThank you from the bottom of my heart. I know this package is a bit late... but I didn't want to give up on getting the sensors until I had to. Maybe next year.","fullyFundedDate":1731599266512,"projectUrl":"project/my-students-deserve-to-understand-the-ph/8915215/","projectTitle":"My Students Deserve to Understand the Physics They Are Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Long","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9823667"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_98491","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":386,"numTeachers":22,"percentFrplEligible":78,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":4,"percentWhite":60,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":28,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"17.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":58.3,"schoolId":98491,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Academy Technology Engineering Math and Science at the Lift on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Academy Technology Engineering Math and Science at the Lift","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/texas/abilene-independent-school-district/new-tech-high-school/98491"}

About this school

Academy Technology Engineering Math and Science at the Lift is an urban public school in Abilene, Texas that is part of Abilene Independent School District. It serves 386 students in grades 9 - 12 with a student/teacher ratio of 17.5:1. Its teachers have had 5 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Grades 9 - 12

386 Students

22 Teachers

2034 Quantum Loop

Abilene, TX 79602 View local requests

http://www.abileneisd.org

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Academy Technology Engineering Math and Science at the Lift Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Academy Technology Engineering Math and Science at the Lift Demographics

78%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

34%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Academy Technology Engineering Math and Science at the Lift Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.