A $10,000 grant from Eaton Corp. will help fund the purchase of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) materials and resources at McMichael Middle School.
The surprise announcement came Thursday during a pep rally for sixth-graders at McMichael will allow Nacogdoches ISD to further expand career and technical education opportunities at the middle school campus and purchase STEM materials and resources to help prepare students for careers in science and engineering.
Nacogdoches ISD Education Foundation made the initial application for the award from Eaton. It’s the second time in as many years NEF and Eaton have partnered. In 2025, NHS received robotic arms and grant funds for use in CTE programs at Nacogdoches High School.
The grant awarded Thursday from Eaton will help fund the hardware and software – computers, graphics tablets, software, webcams and mics – needed to add four new elective offerings in the STEM field at McMichael Middle School. The new courses will be related to video game design, computer science and graphic design.
“I’m excited for what this will bring to our students here at McMichael,” said Principal Gerald Fonzie. “Eaton’s generosity will provide additional opportunities for students to find their passion and begin establishing a strong foundation for success at high school and beyond.”
The program at McMichael is aligned closely with the district’s wide array of CTE offerings already in place at Nacogdoches High School and is part of NISD’s efforts to expand the program to its sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders.
“We’re grateful for the support from Eaton,” said NISD Superintendent Grey Burton. “They recognize what we already know… we have incredibly talented students who will accomplish great things, and this latest contribution from Eaton will expand upon what we can offer.”
Opportunities within the CTE department at Nacogdoches High School include: animal science, computer science, welding, engineering, construction, law enforcement, robotics, cosmetology/barbering, graphic design, teaching and training, automotive, culinary arts, marketing and sales, information technology, health science – PCT/phlebotomy/EKG, health science – EMT, and health informatics – medical billing and coding.
Many of the courses at the high school are part of a dual credit relationship with Lamar State College and can provide students with up to 30 hours of college credit by the time they graduate from NHS.
Eaton, with its recently expanded location in Nacogdoches, partners with AdoptAClassroom.org to support schools in the communities where their employees live and work and celebrates Eaton’s commitment to their community and STEM education.