Scobee Education Center Named First Recipient of MOD-t 3D Printers

 Partnership Broadening STEM Education in Challenger Learning Centers Across the Country

SAN ANTONIO – June 27, 2017 – Challenger Center, a leading science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education organization, and New Matter, a leading desktop 3D printing company, today announced that Challenger Learning Center at the Scobee Education Center, San Antonio College, has been chosen as the first Center to receive five award-winning MOD-t 3D printers as part of the initial phase of the recently announced Challenger Center-New Matter partnership. The Scobee Education Center immediately implemented the printers into its summer camp programs, including its Cosmic Kids Camp where the printers will be used to help teach lessons about force and motion, as well as coding. The Center will also integrate the MOD-t 3D printers into other programs and lessons. The Challenger Center-New Matter partnership is broadening STEM education through the placement of MOD-t 3D printers in Challenger Centers across the country.

“We’re especially pleased to kick off our incredible New Matter partnership in San Antonio with the  Scobee Education Center, our flagship Challenger Learning Center,” said Lance Bush, president and chief executive officer, Challenger Center. “New Matter’s MOD-t 3D printers will enhance the Center’s STEM education programs, encourage creative thinking and problem solving, and provide an important tool to connect students to real-world technology and careers.”

Widely recognized for both the high quality of its prints and the elegant simplicity of its design, the MOD-t was created with educators in mind. One of the quietest desktop 3D printers available, the MOD-t can be easily integrated into a Challenger Learning Center experience without causing disruption to the program or mission taking place.

“We’re excited to officially begin our partnership with Challenger Center with the placement of MOD-ts at the stunning Scobee Education Center,” said Steve Schell, chief executive officer and cofounder, New Matter. “Among the many important elements of the partnership, perhaps the most essential is that the thousands of kids who visit the Center will now get to be hands-on with 3D printers, both during the summer and beyond. The technology’s potential to expand kids’ minds is almost boundless and we can’t wait to see how the MOD-ts are put to use in San Antonio.”

In late January, Challenger Center’s network of 43 Challenger Learning Centers submitted proposals describing how, if selected, they would use New Matter MOD-t 3D printers for STEM education programming. Additional Centers chosen to receive the printers will be announced over the next several months.

“The addition of New Matter’s MOD-t 3D printers gives us the chance to add more hands-on interactive activities to our education programs,” said Rick Varner, director, Scobee Education Center. “We have already added the MOD-ts into our summer camps and look forward to implementing the technology into other new programs in the near future.”

For more information about the Scobee Education Center, please visit www.sacscobee.org or connect on Facebook. For more information about New Matter, please visit www.newmatter.com or connect on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information about Challenger Center, please visit challenger.org or connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Scobee Education Center
Natasha N. Sobers
210.486.0956
nsobers@alamo.edu

New Matter
Ronjini Joshua
562.241.1668
ronjini@thesilvertelegram.com

Challenger Center HQ (DC)
Lisa Vernal
202.827.1573
lvernal@challenger.org

About Challenger Center
As a leader in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, Challenger Center and its network of Challenger Learning Centers provide more than 250,000 students annually with experiential education programs to engage students in hands-on learning opportunities. These programs strengthen knowledge in STEM subjects and inspire students to pursue careers in these important fields. Challenger Center was created to honor the crew of shuttle flight STS-51-L.

About New Matter
New Matter makes the benefits of 3D printing accessible and affordable to every classroom and home by providing the best, most seamless user experience of any desktop 3D printer. The award-winning New Matter MOD-t is the most elegantly simple printer for both educational institutions and consumers, delivering the highest quality and reliability in the industry. The company is backed by leading venture capital firms and is an operating company of technology incubator Idealab.

New Matter and MOD-t are registered trademarks of New Matter, Inc. in the United States.

About San Antonio College
One of five colleges in the Alamo Colleges District, San Antonio College (SAC) is the largest, single-campus community college in Texas and among the largest in the nation. Founded in 1925 and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1955, San Antonio College offers nearly 200 academic programs in the Arts & Sciences and Professional/Technical fields. In addition, SAC serves the community with myriad continuing education opportunities.

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