A Cambria County Middle School received a significant grant today.

Competitive Power Ventures donated the money to support Central Cambria Middle School's STEM programs.

Central Cambria eighth graders are getting a chance to learn through hands-on projects about engineering and sustainable energy.

CPV donated the $20,000 to fund a new program created by a nonprofit, Project Lead the Way.

The program focuses on creating opportunities for students to learn about science, engineering and math.

Six News spoke with an eighth-grade science teacher at Central Cambria Middle School who is teaching the new curriculum.

She tells Six News the students enjoy the lessons more when they are learning through hands-on projects.

Teachers hope this new program teaches students lessons they can use throughout their lives.

"The biggest goal is that no matter what they do when they leave the middle school is that they become thinkers. We are taking that thinking process to the next level." said science teacher Krista Templeton. "So it’s not just about are they learning about the types of energy, which of course I want them to know. It’s, are they learning how to learn, so no matter what they choose to do with their lives they'll be able to succeed."

Templeton tells Six News the next project she'll be working on is a windmill competition, to see which students can design the one that works the best.

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