On Feb. 20, representative of NexTier Bank and Mars Planet Foundation visited Mars Area Centennial School to see first-hand the fruits of several past donations that have benefitted Mars Area School District’s STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art Mathematics) and other programs.

Clem Rosenberger, NexTier Bank President & CEO, and Carol Aspelin-Fennick, NexTier Bank Senior Vice President of Treasury Management, along with Mars Planet Foundation board members Beth Ziegler (President), and Amy Riggio (EITC Coordinator), toured the school’s STEAM Room and met with students to see how new and innovative technologies have enhanced their learning.

In November 2024, Nextier Bank donated $40,000, a portion of which was awarded to the school’s STEAM program through the foundation’s Teaching Enrichment Grant program. The monies were used to purchase drones, which, this school year, have been incorporated into a culminating activity as part of the student’s Coding & Programming Unit.

“Coding, programming and robotics have been one of the essential learning activities for our STEAM program,” says Chris Churilla, STEAM teacher. “By implementing drone technology into our STEAM Curriculum, students are learning the science and technology behind how these drone shows are created and may get inspiration to take their knowledge into a future career.”

In November 2025, Nextier made another $40,000 donation, which will be used to fund future school programs and activities through Mars Planet Foundation.

Mars Planet Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, serves to develop, promote and finance educational programs, activities and projects within Mars Area School District. As a 501(c)(3), which is approved by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a tax-exempt, charitable organization, the foundation may apply for specific grants and other private and public allocations.

For more information, visit www.marsplanetfoundation.org.