1 / 18

THE ATRIUM

Learn by Making

A hands-on makerspace for high school students and beyond

High school students tinkering in a makerspace

CTE Entrepreneurship & MakerSpace Grant

CTE Program Overview

SUPPORTING THE UNIQUE TALENTS OF ALL STUDENTS

  • CTE programs emphasize hands-on learning, workforce needs, and emerging technologies.
  • Students gain essential skills for college and careers through the many CTE programs at STHS.
  • CTE emphasizes work-based learning on campus and with community partners to apply learned skills.
Student Trainers Sports Medicine
Fire Science Training Fire Science
Medical Lab Health Sciences
Woodworking Construction

CTE Strong Workforce Grant 2025

LAUNCHPAD FOR SUCCESS: ENTREPRENEURSHIP & MAKERSPACE GRANT

Goals

Provide opportunities for all students to learn & explore:

STEM Arts Culinary
  • Academic support for teachers & students
  • Establish a fully equipped maker space
  • Entrepreneurship, prototyping, business planning
  • Business incubator
  • Public facing retail space
Makerspace workshop Open maker lab

Makerspace Grant

Barriers

  • No facility space on campus
  • Unable to add more pathways due to flat enrollment
  • Students need exposure to emerging technologies & tools
  • Sustainability plan after grant cycle?

Solution

  • Community Partner with shared goals & motivation
  • Lease public facing space

Marcella Foundation

THINK BIG & MAKE A DIFFERENCE

FEED

  • 50,000+ Lbs of Surplus Food to local families
  • 15+ businesses and 3 schools in Holiday Food Drive

READ

  • 30,000 children's books through the Imagination Library
  • 65 Tahoe Valley Students in ReadingPals
  • 150+ Kindles to Sierra House
  • Convene Reading Network

LEAD

  • $280,000 in scholarships to over 32 students
  • 100+ college applications through the CAAP Fund
Feed Tahoe Anniversary ReadingPals Marcella Foundation impact stats

What We're Building

Makerspace

MAKERSPACE

A 9,000+ square foot makerspace dedicated to high school students

Culinary Lab

CULINARY LAB

Unique environment to learn innovation in cooking, sustainable gardening and more

Marcella HQ

MARCELLA HQ

Connecting volunteers with community impact

3D printing Virtual reality

Entrepreneurship Lab Coordinator

Joseph Minnich

Serial opener-of-makerspaces, Joseph joined the Marcella Foundation to lead the development of our makerspace. His maker journey began as a student technician, helping to launch American University's Design and Build Lab. Since then he's founded two makerspaces at Coastal Carolina University and contributed to Case Western Reserve University's Sears think[box]. Outside of work, Joseph is an avid outdoorsman who seizes every opportunity for an ambitious adventure, whether it's mountain biking, kayaking, or camping off the beaten path.

"
Everyone is a maker. This is a place where you can build anything.
"

Connecting with classrooms

Group 1 Group 2
Osirich Stamps Shu Chien 0 Shu Chien 1

Build a model

Build a Model - Finished Build a Model - Work in Progress
3D printed antigen-antibody molecule

Learn a skill

Arthur Preston

Demonstrations

Demonstration - Ryan Demonstration - Clarinets

Tools we brought today

3D Printer

A1 3D printer

Tools we brought today

Pen Plotter

Bantam Pen Plotter

Tools we brought today

Laser Cutter

F2 laser cutter

Tools we brought today

Cardboard Prototyping

Chompsaw for cardboard prototyping

Tools we brought today

Sewing & Embroidery

SE700 sewing and embroidery
01

Phase 1

Mobile Makerspace

Now in Progress

Equipment Demonstrations

Deploying maker tools directly to the school site—3D printers, laser cutters, and more—so students can experience hands-on creation without leaving campus.

Teacher Integrations

Partnering with educators to weave making into existing curriculum, turning abstract concepts into tangible projects.

Student Leadership

Building peer mentorship capacity at both high school and community college levels—students teaching students.

South Tahoe High School The Atrium Mobile Makerspace trailer with students
The Atrium building exterior The Atrium interior
02

Phase 2

The Atrium Opens

Fall 2026

Field Trips

Classrooms visit for immersive maker experiences—broad exposure that sparks curiosity.

Certifications

Students earn credentials on tools and equipment, building real skills they can take anywhere.

After School

Workshops and open lab hours for student tinkering—a place to explore without the bell.

Open Tinkering

Free access for independent projects—because the best ideas come from unstructured time.

How to Work With Us

🛠️

Tool Demonstrations

Live demos of the latest gear and techniques

Goal: 0/5 Classes
🏫

Class Integration

We bring the gear and the fun to you

🧬

Build a Model

Elevate your lecture with bespoke teaching aids

✨

Skill Workshops

3D modeling, electronics and more...

Scan to sign up