{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Merrill Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":36.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10033375,"projectId":9703865,"letterContent":"Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Drone Engineers of Tomorrow is fully funded! My students now have access to 2 CoDrone EDU kits, giving them a powerful, hands-on way to explore coding, engineering, and flight while connecting learning to real-world careers.\r\n\r\nMy students are endlessly curious, fearless with new ideas, and eager to dive into hands-on challenges. When technology meets creativity, they truly shine. With programmable drones in their hands—technology rarely found in classrooms—students are not just flying; they are designing, coding, testing, and refining missions that simulate real-world scenarios such as medical deliveries, search-and-rescue operations, and environmental mapping. Watching their code come to life in the air has been a transformative learning experience.\r\n\r\nThis project also opens doors to STEM career exploration. Students rotate through roles such as engineer, coder, pilot, and safety officer, building teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills while imagining futures in aerospace engineering, robotics, logistics, and media technology. Every lesson is deeply hands-on: students assemble drones, troubleshoot errors, swap batteries, replace propellers, and persist through challenges—just like real engineers.","fullyFundedDate":1763567234888,"projectUrl":"project/drone-engineers-of-tomorrow-coding-fli/9703865/","projectTitle":"Drone Engineers of Tomorrow: Coding, Flight, and Real-World Innovation","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Brown","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10033375_orig.jpg?crop=2365,2365,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747021778254","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/brownteaches"},{"teacherId":10033375,"projectId":9641347,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, our classroom has transformed into a hands-on drone engineering lab. Students are actively using the new resources to learn how coding directly impacts flight, stability, and navigation. One memorable moment came during our first programming session, when students successfully coded a drone to complete a controlled takeoff and landing. Seeing their code come to life in the air made abstract concepts suddenly feel real and exciting.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials arrived, the energy in the room was immediate. Students gathered around, asking questions, making predictions, and eagerly volunteering to be the first to try programming a flight path. For many, this was their first experience working with advanced technology like this, and it sparked confidence and curiosity—especially among students who don't always see themselves as \"engineers.\"\r\n\r\nNext, students will build on these skills by designing and testing more complex flight challenges, analyzing data, and connecting their work to real-world applications such as agriculture, search and rescue, and environmental monitoring. Your support has given them more than equipment—it has given them inspiration and a vision of what their future could be. Thank you for opening the door to innovation and possibility in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1760752926438,"projectUrl":"project/drone-engineers-coding-flight-and-tom/9641347/","projectTitle":"Drone Engineers: Coding, Flight, and Tomorrow's Innovation","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Brown","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10033375_orig.jpg?crop=2365,2365,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747021778254","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/brownteaches"},{"teacherId":10033375,"projectId":9643998,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, my students have been able to dive deeper into the world of robotics and engineering than ever before. The new Super-Duty Worm Drive Gearbox and Yellow Jacket Planetary Gear Motors have given our robots more power, precision, and reliability—allowing students to design and test complex mechanical systems with real-world applications. These components have transformed our classroom into a hands-on engineering lab, where students are not just learning about machines, but building and programming them.\r\n\r\nWhat excites my students most is seeing their ideas come to life. They light up when a robot they've assembled begins to move exactly as they programmed it. Many of them are taking on leadership roles—mentoring younger students, collaborating on problem-solving strategies, and applying physics and math concepts in ways that feel meaningful and fun. A few students who were once quiet in class have found their voice through robotics, proudly explaining how sensors and gear ratios work to visiting guests and teammates.\r\n\r\nBecause of this project, students from our small rural school now have access to high-level STEM experiences that are often limited to larger districts. You've helped make it possible for them to dream bigger and see themselves in future careers in engineering, manufacturing, and technology. Thank you for investing in their potential and giving them the tools to create, explore, and succeed.","fullyFundedDate":1757514214130,"projectUrl":"project/gearing-up-future-engineers/9643998/","projectTitle":"Gearing Up Future Engineers","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Brown","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10033375_orig.jpg?crop=2365,2365,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747021778254","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/brownteaches"},{"teacherId":10033375,"projectId":9704228,"letterContent":"When my students first saw the CoDrone EDU kit, their eyes lit up with excitement. They couldn't believe they'd get to code and fly a real drone right in our classroom! From the moment we powered it on, curiosity took over—students immediately started brainstorming how they could program precise flight paths, simulate real-world deliveries, and test their own designs. The room was filled with energy, collaboration, and the kind of problem-solving that only happens when learning feels like discovery.\r\n\r\nSince introducing the drone, my students have been using it to explore coding, physics, and engineering in a hands-on way. They've practiced writing code to control flight patterns, measure distances, and simulate missions like search-and-rescue or environmental mapping. Students have rotated through roles as pilots, coders, and safety officers—learning teamwork, communication, and leadership. Watching them troubleshoot, experiment, and celebrate their first successful flight was a moment I'll never forget.","fullyFundedDate":1758727283820,"projectUrl":"project/soaring-innovation-inspiring-stem-learn/9704228/","projectTitle":"Soaring Innovation: Inspiring STEM Learning with Programmable Drones (parts)","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Brown","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10033375_orig.jpg?crop=2365,2365,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747021778254","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/brownteaches"},{"teacherId":10033375,"projectId":9569773,"letterContent":"When my students first saw the CoDrone EDU kit, their eyes lit up with excitement. They couldn't believe they'd get to code and fly a real drone right in our classroom! From the moment we powered it on, curiosity took over—students immediately started brainstorming how they could program precise flight paths, simulate real-world deliveries, and test their own designs. The room was filled with energy, collaboration, and the kind of problem-solving that only happens when learning feels like discovery.\r\n\r\nSince introducing the drone, my students have been using it to explore coding, physics, and engineering in a hands-on way. They've practiced writing code to control flight patterns, measure distances, and simulate missions like search-and-rescue or environmental mapping. Students have rotated through roles as pilots, coders, and safety officers—learning teamwork, communication, and leadership. Watching them troubleshoot, experiment, and celebrate their first successful flight was a moment I'll never forget.\r\n\r\nThanks to Ripple's support, this project has transformed how my students view STEM. They're not just learning concepts—they're living them. This experience has opened doors to discussions about careers in aerospace, robotics, and programming. For me as a teacher, it's been powerful to see abstract lessons in motion—literally. Ripple helped bring innovation to life in our classroom, and because of that, my students now see themselves as future engineers, creators, and problem-solvers ready to soar.","fullyFundedDate":1757505579638,"projectUrl":"project/soaring-innovation-inspiring-stem-learn/9569773/","projectTitle":"Soaring Innovation: Inspiring STEM Learning with Programmable Drones","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Brown","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10033375_orig.jpg?crop=2365,2365,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747021778254","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/brownteaches"},{"teacherId":10033375,"projectId":9412641,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our students are discovering the world of design and engineering in new, hands-on ways through 3D printing. Many of our students had seen 3D-printed objects before but had no idea how they were created. Now, they are able to design models on the computer, adjust their creations, and watch them come to life layer by layer. This process has helped them better understand measurement, geometry, and problem-solving in a way that feels real and exciting rather than abstract.\r\n\r\nWhat excites the students most is the ability to take an idea from their imagination and hold it in their hands within hours. Whether it's a keychain, a phone stand, or a custom robot part, they are amazed by the fact that they can create something functional and personalized. Several students who were hesitant about technology before have found a new passion for engineering through this project. One student in particular, who often struggles with traditional assignments, has become a leader in teaching peers how to use the design software—his confidence has grown tremendously.","fullyFundedDate":1755689082393,"projectUrl":"project/layer-by-layer-keep-our-printers-rollin/9412641/","projectTitle":"Layer by Layer: Keep Our Printers Rolling","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Brown","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10033375_orig.jpg?crop=2365,2365,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747021778254","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/brownteaches"},{"teacherId":10033375,"projectId":9348243,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our students are discovering the world of design and engineering in new, hands-on ways through 3D printing. Many of our students had seen 3D-printed objects before but had no idea how they were created. Now, they are able to design models on the computer, adjust their creations, and watch them come to life layer by layer. This process has helped them better understand measurement, geometry, and problem-solving in a way that feels real and exciting rather than abstract.\r\n\r\nWhat excites the students most is the ability to take an idea from their imagination and hold it in their hands within hours. Whether it's a keychain, a phone stand, or a custom robot part, they are amazed by the fact that they can create something functional and personalized. Several students who were hesitant about technology before having found a new passion for engineering through this project. One student in particular, who often struggles with traditional assignments, has become a leader in teaching peers how to use the design software—his confidence has grown tremendously.","fullyFundedDate":1747248521779,"projectUrl":"project/layer-by-layer-building-brighter-engine/9348243/","projectTitle":"Layer by Layer: Building Brighter Engineers in 3D","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Brown","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10033375_orig.jpg?crop=2365,2365,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747021778254","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/brownteaches"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_40828","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":97,"numTeachers":10,"percentFrplEligible":84,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":93,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":5,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"9.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":63.6,"schoolId":40828,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Merrill Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Merrill Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/michigan/merrill-community-school-district/merrill-middle-high-school/40828"}