Congratulations to the UEHS Technology Department on receiving the International Technology and Engineering Educator Association (ITEEA) 2025–2026 STEM School of Excellence Award. The department has demonstrated that the school is a powerful force in advancing technology, engineering, and STEM education. This recognition places UEHS among an outstanding group of professionals who continue to make a meaningful difference in students’ lives while strengthening engineering and technological literacy.
The department’s commitment to innovation and excellence is clearly evident. Reviewers were particularly inspired by the following highlight from the application:
“Over the past three school years, students have built large-scale trebuchets for pumpkin launching. The trebuchets stand over ten feet tall and use a 400-lb counterweight. Courses involved in the construction and analysis include woods manufacturing, construction systems, metals fabrication, principles of engineering, and trigonometry. The project focuses on building techniques, simple machines, trigonometry, vectors, velocity calculations, projectile motion, forces, and data collection.”
The program is led by Technology Education educators Thomas Palazzo, Michael Wichowski, and 
Corey Munn, who bring 26, 15, and 14 years of experience, respectively. The UEHS technology and engineering program offers a wide range of opportunities for students interested in exploring technical and engineering fields. A strong focus on continuous improvement has resulted in meaningful program growth and positive student outcomes.
Opportunities include:
- Curriculum in Construction and Advanced Construction Technologies
- Curriculum in transportation systems, Drone Technologies, PLTW Civil Engineering/Architecture and Aerospace Engineering courses and flight simulation with a fully immersive flight simulator
- CNC router unit in Advanced Woods Materials Processing; CNC Machining with a possibility of internship at Lockheed Martin.
ITEEA’s STEM Center for Teaching and Learning™ (STEM CTL) annually recognizes outstanding schools for their commitment to providing a robust Technology, Engineering, and STEM education experience through the STEM School of Excellence Recognition Program. This special designation was created to celebrate those schools whose teachers, administrators, and stakeholders are providing a meaningful STEM education experience for students and to inspire others to learn effective best practices and instructional strategies to enhance their own programs.