Helping Education Programs in Schenectady

Gretchen Belanger, executive director of Rise High, was our speaker last week. Rise High is a program started in 2018 in Schenectady County that is designed to expose "under-resourced youth" to learning opportunities and potential careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). 

Gretchen herself is a mechanical engineer with extensive experience at the Naval Nuclear Laboratory in Niskayuna and in the private sector. A Ballston Spa resident with three grown children, she has also volunteered for City Mission of Schenectady, Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child, and the Schenectady Rotary Club.

Rise High students are mostly from the city of Schenectady, but meet on Saturday mornings on the Mohonasen campus in Rotterdam. They do not pay anything for the program or transport. Rise High is mostly privately funded by businesses and foundations, along with a grant from Schenectady County rising to $10,000 this year. It is reliant on fund-raising and volunteers.

She also told us about the upcoming Cornhole for a Cause event of Schenectady Rotary, benefiting educational initiatives at the Keane Elementary School in the city. It will he held on Sunday July 12 at Rivers Casino & Resort.