One to grow on
Troy schools unveil new greenhouse for students
TROY, N. Y. » Students at Troy Middle School and Troy High School now have the opportunity to gain some firsthand knowledge about agriculture thanks to a new greenhouse unveiled at a Thursday afternoon ceremony.
Built during the summer at the high school, the greenhouse will be used by high- and middleschool students, as well as students participating in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s STEP program. The project was a collaboration
between RPI, the Troy City School District and the community meant to engage young people, particularly those in developing
sustainable communities.
School officials said the facility will provide projectbased learning opportunities in sustainable agriculture.
The project was funded in support of RPI STEP, a program funded by the state Department of Education
since 1986 to help underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students in grades 7– 12
to pursue degrees and licensed professions in the so- called STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The program currently serves 132 students in the Capital Region, of which 30 percent attend Troy city schools.
Additional funding was provided by The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust, The Junior League of Albany, The Seymour Fox Foundation, the Whole Kids Foundation and Wicked Smart Apparel, as well as the Lowes Toolbox for Schools program.