Google funds on-campus welding training and early STEM at Hamilton Local Schools
Grants totaling $75,000 let 125 high school students train on new welding equipment without leaving campus and keep a free K-3 afterschool science program running. A separate $30,000 sponsorship paid for Thanksgiving meal kits for district families last fall.
High school students in Hamilton Local School District can now train as welders without leaving campus, thanks to a $15,000 grant from Google that pays for industry-grade equipment.
The grant is one of three Google investments the Columbus district announced Oct. 5, alongside $60,000 for an elementary afterschool STEM program and a $30,000 sponsorship that provided Thanksgiving meal kits for district families.
“This partnership reaches students at every stage—from sparking curiosity and a love of STEM among our youngest learners, to providing high school students with hands-on training and credentials that can lead directly to high-demand careers,” said Emily Jablonka, the district’s chief academic officer.
By the numbers
- $105,000 in total Google funding across three programs
- $15,000 for in-house welding equipment
- 125 high school students enrolled in pre-apprenticeships
- $60,000 for the Ready Rangers Afterschool STEM Program
- 150 to 200 K-3 students served by Ready Rangers each year
- $30,000 for Thanksgiving meal kits in fall 2025
Welding training moves on campus
The district is using the grant to upgrade its existing welding equipment and buy new, industry-grade equipment for its pre-apprenticeship program. Before the upgrade, students had to travel to partner facilities off-site, and transportation kept some of them from taking part.
The program prepares students for living-wage careers in high-demand fields and helps them earn OSHA-10 certification. The district noted that building these skills in-house aligns with regional opportunities in digital infrastructure, including local data center construction and operations.
“Skilled trades and technical skills are the bedrock of our digital economy—and vital to constructing and operating facilities like our nearby Columbus data center,” said Alex Hilgeman, Ohio community development manager at Google.
Ready Rangers builds an early start in STEM
The $60,000 grant keeps the Ready Rangers Afterschool STEM Program running at Hamilton Local Elementary School. The PAST Foundation runs the program.
Ready Rangers is free for students in kindergarten through third grade. It runs six three-week sessions from October through April and meets three days a week. Students work through interactive science demonstrations and digital tools alongside peers, high school interns and STEM instructors, building collaboration, communication and social-emotional skills.
Hilgeman explained that Google’s goal across both programs is to help Hamilton Local students gain the practical skills and certifications needed for high-demand, living-wage careers in their home community.
Holiday support for district families
Google’s $30,000 sponsorship paid for Thanksgiving meal kits for hundreds of district families in fall 2025. The kits supplemented Holiday Help, the district’s long-running holiday assistance program.
Jablonka described the meal kits as a sign of Google’s commitment to families’ well-being beyond the classroom. She added that the investments help the district remove barriers, expand opportunities and give students meaningful pathways to success after graduation.
