PADUCAH, Ky. - Swift & Staley Software Development Manager Brandon Hall recently read a post on social media about Sprocket, Inc., a nonprofit makerspace, needing pre-owned circuit boards for an upcoming student technology project.
Makerspaces are for groups of individuals to share online tools and space for information-technology development. Swift & Staley is EM’s infrastructure support services contractor for the former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant site.
Hall knew the Paducah Site had several excess circuit boards that would meet Sprocket’s needs. He reached out to Swift & Staley, which agreed to donate 50 outdated circuit boards to the non-profit organization. The contractor was pleased to support a program promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education for area youth.
“With the donated boards we hope to build a prototype for Bitcoin mining with our summer interns," said Monica Bilak, president of the board for Sprocket. “Each Sprocket intern picks a personal summer project to develop, and thanks to Swift & Staley and DOE, we can build on our ideas."
Jennifer Woodard, Paducah Site lead for EM’s Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office, said she is pleased with the initiative taken by site employees to fill a need in the community.
“It is exciting to see outdated equipment at the Paducah Site being utilized by local youth," she said.
Swift & Staley Vice President Tammy Courtney agreed.
“Swift & Staley is thankful to see students utilizing the IT equipment and gaining valuable knowledge that may help them in their future career opportunities," Courtney said.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
