Latest news with #MolineHighSchool
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Moline High recognized as Project Lead the Way Distinguished School
Moline High School has been recognized as a 2024-25 Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School, according to a news release. It is among a select group of high schools across the U.S. to be recognized for its commitment to inspiring and engaging students to unlock their potential through its PLTW Computer Science and Engineering programs. PLTW is a national nonprofit organization that creates transformative learning experiences and empowers students to develop in-demand knowledge and skills for future careers. 'Project Lead the Way has been an amazing partner in providing solid curricular support forour STEM programs,' said Chris Moore, principal of Moline High School. 'We are honored bythe recognition, and we continue in our commitment to providing quality STEM and career andtechnical education for MHS students.' The PLTW Distinguished School recognition honors schools committed to increasing studentaccess, engagement, and achievement in their PLTW programs. To be eligible for the designation, Moline High School had to meet criteria in the 2023-24 school year such asnumber of PLTW courses available to students, percent of students enrolled in PLTW, andpercent of students taking more than one PLTW course. Moline High School currently offers four engineering courses and two computer sciencecourses: Engineering courses: Introduction to Engineering, Principles of Engineering. Computer-Integrated Manufacturing, and Civil Engineering and science courses: Computer Science Essentials and Computer Science Principles. 'We are proud to honor Moline High School for their commitment to providing students withexceptional educational experiences through PLTW programs,' said Dr. David Dimmett, PLTWpresident and CEO.'This achievement celebrates their dedication to student achievement andtheir focus on empowering students with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in school and a wide range of post-secondary opportunities.' PLTW high school programs prepare today's students for the careers of tomorrow, by not onlyincorporating STEM skills into their learning but also building students' collaboration, teamwork and communication skills so they can be ready for whatever path they take. For more information about PLTW's Distinguished Program Recognition, visit here. For more information on Moline High School's PLTW Computer Science and Engineeringprogram, contact MHS teacher Zachary Bostic, at 309-743-8879 or zbostic@ Bostic serves as Moline High School's industrial technology teacher, Project Lead The Way coordinator, and CNC & welding apprenticeship coordinator. About PLTW For nearly 30 years, Project Lead The Way (PLTW) has prepared PreK–12 students for careers,college, and life by equipping them with the STEM knowledge, credential preparation,transferable skills, and confidence to succeed. Its hands-on, real-world learning, deep industrypartnerships and clear, scaffolded curriculum guide students from early career curiosity topost-secondary readiness. With strong professional development taught by a national network of more than 116,000 trained teachers in 12,200+ schools across all 50 states, PLTW enablesschools to design scalable, future-focused programs that inspire students, empower educators,and connect learning to life after graduation. Visit here to learn more. PLTW Computer Science The PLTW Computer Science interdisciplinary courses engage students in compelling, realworld computer science challenges. As students work together to design solutions, they learnmore than just how to code, developing computational thinking and communication skills for the increasingly technology-based economy. PLTW Engineering PLTW Engineering empowers high school students to step into the role of an engineer and adopt a problem-solving mindset. Students engage in collaborative, real-life activities like working with a client to design a home, programming electronic devices or robotic arms, and exploring algae as a biofuel source. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Bazooka Charlie' honored in Moline with sculpture
World War II veteran Charles 'Bazooka Charlie' Carpenter was honored Wednesday with the unveiling of a sculpture at Moline High School. Created by local artist David Zahn, the sculpture was modeled after the cover photo of the 'Bazooka Charlie' book. As the sculpture goes down it depicts a plane flying over a French countryside. 'Trying to keep this representational of him and then still having some creativity was what I was trying to balance.' said Zahn. Zahn told Our Quad Cities News that has been sculpting for 34 years and he loves to make things with a purpose. 'Each project is part of my artistic journey.' He added. Zahn taught art at Moline high school for over 20 years. The sculpture has a creed underneath it that Carpenter wrote when he was 17. 'I have resolved to exert all my efforts toward being a nobler and stronger fellow. A gentleman, a scholar, a friend, and a real man/person. To the best of my ability, I will ever strive to self-control, self-improvement, freedom, wisdom, courage, generosity, truth, and true nobility before gods & men. I will be better.' The unveiling also included an overview of Carpenter's life presented by the authors of 'Bazooka Charlie: The Unbelievable Story of Major Charles Carpenter and Rosie the Rocketer' James P. Busha and Carol Carpenter Apacki. Carol Carpenter Apacki is the daughter of 'Bazooka Charlie' and told Our Quad Cities News 'My dad would never have dreamed of this. It's a thrill for me, I feel like I'm riding on the wings of my dad today.' Students were invited to write their own creeds in honor of Charles Carpenter. His daughter says that inspiration was something that has really touched her. Charles Carpenter was a history teacher at moline high school before World War II. Apacki Carpenter told Our Quad Cities News her dad never spoke about the war to her. 'He came back from the war pretty shattered.' When he returned, he was diagnosed with terminal illness and was told he only had a year to live. His daughter says he lived happily for 25 more years after that. 'He had a happy and successful life, he became a teacher again and he was highly respected.' She said her dad never spoke about his father and grew up without him. That was the reason that he wrote the creed, in order to be a better example. Apacki Carpenter described her father as very charismatic, an athlete, a practical joker, a singer, and a teacher. 'He was the father to me that he never had.' She added. In addition to the unveiling, the authors also held a book signing and Q and A session. The event was an opportunity for the community to learn about a local veteran and his legacy. Author James P. Busha helped piece together the story of Charles Carpenter using all of the documents, pictures, news articles and more that were kept by the family. He told Our Quad Cities News writing the book was a dream come true. He describes the book as an 'incredible journey.' 'Bazooka Charlie' was born in rural Illinois and grew up in Reynolds Illinois. He is most known for destroying armored vehicles in World War II with bazookas equipped to his L-4 Grasshopper aircraft. He named the aircraft 'Rosie the Rocketer.' Busha described Charles Carpenter as a prolific writer and history scholar. 'When he left college he wrote in his diary that he's going to set out, change the world, and become a teacher, and he did.' Busha told Our Quad Cities News. Busha has interviewed veterans for over 25 years, interviewing over 350 from World War II. 'They've always been my heroes.' He told Our Quad Cities News. He was shocked that there had been no documentation about Carpenters life prior to the book. In 2016 when he was contacted by Apacki Carpenter to write the book and was left speechless. 'She told me his name, and I couldn't speak because I thought that history was lost and I really think she though I hung up on her.' He described the Carpenter family as humble and without need for spotlight. Busha spent over two years researching and looking through documents to uncover the story. After the book was finished, Charles Carpenter's plane 'Rosie the Rocketer' was found in a museum in Austria, brought back to the United States in 2019, and restored. The plane is even able to fly again. Busha says seeing it fly seemed too good to be true. 'It's truly what I term the last surviving American Veteran to return home.' When he witnessed the plane, he says something special happened. 'Suddenly a bald eagle appeared overhead, and I want to say that was Charles Carpenter.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Moline students prepare for Illinois regional welding competition
In the D-wing of Moline High School, industrial tech seniors have been working hours each week to prepare for the upcoming Illinois Regional High School Welding Competition at Midwest Technical Institute. On Saturday, they will be given a blueprint, which they will have to weld to the best of their ability. 'So we practice like most positions we think are going to be in the contest and we just practice, practice, practice until perfect and so we're going to do as best as we can do,' said Moline High School senior Aden Gulick. While each student will receive a $500 scholarship for participating, an additional $5,000 is on the line for whoever wins. 'It is good that we all go as a group, but we also remember it's a competition,' said Gulick. Some students are psyching themselves up for the big day. '(I'm) expecting to at least get top three, trying to get up there,' said Moline High School senior Elijah Rivera. Others are going there to prove themselves. 'When I get out there I just want to show the instructors that I deserve a scholarship and even if I don't get the scholarship I just show the dedication that I want to go to their school,' said Moline High School senior Anthony Gluck. Even though they are competing, their teacher says they still support each other. 'They're always willing to go and show somebody else some tips and tricks to help better prepare themselves for whether it be this competition or just general assignments,' said Moline High School industrial technology teacher Andrew Lamfers. No matter who wins officially, Lamfers believes each student will win a valuable experience. 'It's a lot of work,' said Lamfers. 'Welding's a great career opportunity for these kids. I think over the last two years pushing them and showing them what opportunities are out there and what's available, it's a career that's in high demand right now. They're really just pushing toward bettering themselves for a better future.' Last year's competition awarded $36,000 in scholarships. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Former teacher, Moline mayor, passes away at age 90
A longtime teacher and leader of the Moline and Quad Cities community has passed away, according to an obituary on Stanley Francis Leach, 90, of Moline,, passed away Wednesday at Friendship Manor in Rock Island. He was born in Moline on Jan. 19, 1935, the son of Francis and Wilda Leach. Leach graduated from Moline High School in 1953. He earned a bachelor of arts from Western Illinois University and a master's degree from Illinois State University. He also served in the Air National Guard. In 1961, Stan married Wilma 'Willie' Hughes in Washington, Iowa. They were longtime members of the First Congregational Church in Moline. Leach was an art teacher at Moline High School, and volunteered with the Illinois Youth Commission in the late 1960s, helped start the Moline Optimists Youth Flag Football Program in 1967, co-founded the Moline Young Life program in the 1970s, worked with the Moline Park Board in the 1980s, and helped raise funds with Bob Tunberg for a new gymnasium at Arrowhead Ranch in 1991. He served as a board member for the Niabi Zoological Society, Rock Island County Area Projects, Rock Island Animal Shelter, Moline Rotary, Viva Quad Cities, and the QC and John Deere Golf Classics for over 50 years. He was inducted into the Moline High School Hall of Honor in 2010. He has served on the U. S. League of Cities, the Illinois Municipal League, the Bi-State Planning Commission, and the I-74 Interstate Commission Board and acted as a Moline Second-Alarmer for 20 years. Leach's public offices include a Moline Township Trustee (1980-1985), Moline Alderman Fifth Ward (1985-1990), and Moline Alderman Fourth Ward (1991-1993). He was the first mayor of Moline to be elected to three consecutive terms (1993-2005). Survivors include his wife, Willie; son, Jon; and grandchildren, Addison Irene and Bradyn Stanley, along with a sister, Barbara Fulton, and many nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Friends of the Moline Library and Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities, for which his son Jon is spokesman. There will be no visitation, and a private graveside service and burial will take place at the Rock Island National Cemetery. Family and friends can share memories and express condolences at . To plant trees in his memory, visit here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
