South Fayette Township School District

In Innovation Studio, an elective course open to all students, students partner with local businesses to consider real problems companies are actively working to solve. Students begin each project with a tour of the company and a meeting to understand the problem. From there, students break into teams to tackle various aspects of the problem. Throughout the duration of the project, students meet regularly with professionals from the company and present ideas, solutions, and questions. The culmination includes a pitch presentation of solutions for company executives and employees. This program provides an enriching opportunity for students to act as a consultant designing solutions for real problems, real people are facing in business. For example, students have considered the restoration costs of installing a new gas main and estimating how much material is needed to fill holes for laid pipes when working with Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania.