OA Technology Education Department receives $56,000 grant from Floyd ‘Vic’ Hooker Foundation

The Owego Apalachin Central School District’s  (OACSDs) Technology Education Department recently announced they have been granted their full request of approximately $56,300 from the Floyd “Vic” Hooker Foundation to purchase items to enhance the technology rooms in the OA STEAM Academy.

The Floyd Hooker Foundation (FHF) is a trust established by Floyd “Vic” Hooker in his will to benefit the children in Tioga County. According to the foundation’s website, www.hookerfoundation.org, it was St. Patrick’s Day in 1999 when Floyd “Vic” Hooker struck it rich when he netted $45 million in the New York State Lottery.  

Floyd helped many organizations prior to his death in 2007 and the Hooker Foundation has continued to carry on his legacy of giving. Once a year, the Floyd Hooker Foundation accepts grant applications from qualified tax-exempt organizations to fund projects that benefit the children in Tioga County.

The equipment to be purchased using the STEAM Academy Grant will include: Shop Equipment:  Band Saw, Drill Press, and Router Table; CNC Equipment: two CNC routers for OFA and three portable CNC routers for OAMS; Screen Printing Equipment: A complete screen-printing set-up for printing on clothing (Rotary Press, Flash Dryer, Conveyor Dryer, and Exposure Unit).

Technology teacher Mike Daly added, “The new equipment will be a great addition to what the Owego Apalachin Central School District has already provided the Technology Department and the OA STEAM Academy, in that it will allow students expanded access and hands-on training using the highest level technologies and equipment in the area.” 

The OACSD STEAM program has integrated science, technology, engineering, art and agriculture, and math into a focused curriculum that spans Pre-K through 12th grade.