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New Technology-Integrated Learning Space Aims to Transform Student Engagement and Prepare Future Innovators
Garden Hills Staff, Campos Foundation and SmartLab Leadership alongside students from Garden Hills cut the ceremonial ribbon!
ATLANTA, GA, UNITED STATES, May 23, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — Garden Hills Elementary School marked a significant milestone with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newly installed SmartLab, an innovative, hands-on learning environment made possible by the generous support of the Campos Foundation. Completed in August 2024, the SmartLab represents a bold step forward in how Atlanta Public Schools (APS) equips students with the tools and experiences needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving, technology-driven world.
The ceremony welcomed school leaders, philanthropic partners, district officials, and community members, all celebrating a shared vision: expanding access to immersive learning that inspires curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving in every student.
“This is our first SmartLab in a predominantly Black Title 1 school. The employees and management of Campos Companies are excited and looking to increase our outreach in the Black community in STEM. More to come!” said Marco Campos, Founder and Executive Chairman of Campos Companies.
Young innovators at SmartLab dive into 3D modeling, turning their ideas into reality as part of a hands-on STEM learning experience.
Deanna Campos-Miller, President of Campos Foundation, added: “Each SmartLab we fund is another step toward fulfilling our mission — to uplift women and minorities in STEM. We never know the impact this exposure may have on a child, and many times, attending a school with a STEM curriculum lights a spark that encourages a career in STEM. These children are the future problem solvers, inventors, doctors, and designers, and we are proud to support them.”
The Garden Hills SmartLab provides students with hands-on access to emerging technologies such as robotics, circuitry, digital media arts, software engineering, and more. Students are encouraged to work collaboratively, explore independently, and engage deeply with real-world challenges. From building machines to designing mobile apps and producing animated films, students are actively shaping their learning experiences.
Educators, innovators, and community partners unite at SmartLab to celebrate a shared mission: transforming education through creativity, technology, and collaboration.
Principal Stacey Perot emphasized how the lab has already begun to transform student learning. “Our students are so excited about engaging in authentic STEM activities involving circuitry, communication, media arts, and robotics. At a very young age students are beginning to think critically about environmental and manufacturing technologies, mechanics, and structures in our community as well as software engineering. We cannot thank Campos EPC enough for providing this opportunity for our students for years to come.”
Designed to meet a wide range of learning styles and interests, the SmartLab’s flexible curriculum supports self-directed exploration and builds foundational skills that will benefit students in any path they choose. It reflects Garden Hills’ broader commitment to helping all students grow into confident, capable learners.
To ensure successful implementation, Garden Hills educators have received specialized professional development facilitated by SmartLab experts. These trainings help teachers integrate the lab’s tools into core instruction and confidently guide students through open-ended, inquiry-based learning experiences.
“This partnership with Garden Hills and the Campos Foundation really brings to life what the SmartLab ecosystem is all about. It’s a blend of hands-on tools, collaborative spaces, and real-world learning that sparks those powerful ah-HA! moments. More than that, it helps students build a STEM identity—seeing themselves as capable problem solvers who belong, who can do the work, and who know their ideas matter.” – Dr. Jennifer Berry, CEO at SmartLab
Collaboration and ah-HA! moments are a regular occurrence in a SmartLab!
Garden Hills Elementary now stands as a shining example of how forward-thinking educational models can flourish through community partnerships. The collaboration between the Campos Foundation, Atlanta Public Schools, and SmartLab demonstrates the meaningful change that happens when public education and private philanthropy work hand in hand.
The Campos Foundation invites continued partnerships with school districts, local organizations, and industry leaders to bring high-quality STEM experiences to more students. Their investment at Garden Hills is just the beginning of a broader vision for educational transformation.
𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐋𝐚𝐛
SmartLab delivers turnkey, career-centered K-12 STEM programs that equip today’s students for tomorrow’s challenges. Every hands-on PBL learning environment integrates grade-appropriate STEM applications across industry pathways to create real career connections. SmartLab programs include dedicated or flexible learning environments along with standards-aligned curriculum, professional development, and ongoing support. To learn how your organization can become a partner, visit smartlablearning.com/partnerships/.
𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 & 𝐀𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬
Garden Hills Elementary School, part of the Atlanta Public Schools (APS) district, serves a diverse student body with a strong focus on academic excellence, community engagement, and whole-child development. As part of APS, Garden Hills is committed to ensuring that every student graduates ready for college, career, and life by integrating rigorous instruction with innovative learning environments like the new SmartLab. Learn more at www.atlantapublicschools.us.
Marco gives a commencement speech at the University of Colorado Boulder College of Engineering & Applied Science.
Edgewater students at Lumberg Elementary School show off their skills in STEM.
Campos Foundation donates $178K to bring hands-on STEM SmartLab to Urban Promise Academy, empowering Oakland students through tech and innovation
Urban Promise Academy’s Student Council — Yordi Rivas, Edson Tirene, Shanel Fernandez, Luz Martin Matias, and Naomi Pablo — proudly accept a $178,367.27 check from the Campos Foundation to fund their brand-new SmartLab, opening in 2025!
OAKLAND, CA, UNITED STATES, April 3, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — Momentum is building in Oakland’s education landscape as Urban Promise Academy (UPA) prepares to launch a SmartLab powered by a generous grant from the Campos Foundation. This initiative marks a game-changing investment in STEM access for learners who are often overlooked in STEM fields, placing cutting-edge tools and real-world learning at their fingertips.
For the students at UPA, this lab represents more than just a physical space—it symbolizes opportunity. With robotics kits, engineering tools, coding platforms, and project-based curriculum on the horizon, students will soon be stepping into a new world of learning that sparks curiosity and builds real-world skills.
“This is our 14th SmartLab implementation,” shared Deanna Campos-Miller, Director of the Campos Foundation. “We believe strongly in supporting underrepresented students in STEM from kindergarten through employment. This gift to Urban Promise is part of a larger initiative to serve thousands of students to show them what is possible in STEM.” Her message speaks to the power of community investment in shaping brighter futures through STEM.
At the center of this moment is a shared vision between community, educators, and industry partners. “Forming partnerships with mission-aligned organizations like the Campos Foundation allows us to expand access and opportunity for learners from ALL backgrounds,” said Annie Burnett, VP of Strategic Partnerships at SmartLab. “Together, we’re building inclusive pathways that ensure all students see themselves in STEM.”
Tierre Mesa, Principal of Urban Promise Academy, described the importance of this lab for her students: “We are incredibly thankful to the Campos Foundation for making it possible for us to have a top-notch SmartLab at Urban Promise Academy. This will encourage our students to explore hands-on engineering, robotics, and design projects.” She added, “The technology and curriculum in this SmartLab will build our students’ excitement and confidence that they have the skills to pursue a future career in engineering.”
Teirre Mesa and Reina Cabezas of Urban Promise Academy stand alongside Kelley Fitzsimmons from SmartLab, and Jose Chacon, Connor Burns, Kyle Foy, Ryan Wong, Yesica Cieri, and Herman Hernandez of the Campos Foundation to celebrate the official handoff of a $178K grant
With the check handoff now complete, planning is underway for construction and curriculum implementation. The lab is designed not just as a classroom, but as a creative hub—where students are challenged to think critically, collaborate, and innovate through hands-on projects that connect directly to real-world careers.
The broader school district is also celebrating this milestone. John Sasaki, Communications Director for Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), emphasized how vital the partnership is: “OUSD is profoundly grateful to the Campos Foundation for putting Oakland students first with this wonderful grant,” he said. “We are excited to see the SmartLab take shape at Urban Promise Academy and begin to support students and their pursuit of science literacy.”
He continued, “We have no doubt this lab, with all its STEM features, will provide an exciting environment for students in which they can foster their love of science, technology, engineering, and math—helping propel them into success in high school and in their future careers. This is a perfect example of the importance of public/private partnerships, and we thank the Campos Foundation for their remarkable support.”
As anticipation builds for the 2025 launch, the new SmartLab is already serving as a beacon of what’s possible when communities come together to invest in the next generation of thinkers, makers, and problem-solvers.
𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐋𝐚𝐛
SmartLab delivers turnkey, career-centered K–12 STEM programs that equip today’s students for tomorrow’s challenges. Every hands-on PBL learning environment integrates grade-appropriate STEM applications across industry pathways to create real career connections. SmartLab programs include dedicated or flexible learning environments along with standards-aligned curriculum, professional development, and ongoing support. To learn more, visit www.smartlablearning.com.
𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
The Campos Foundation is committed to empowering underserved communities through education, leadership, and opportunity. With a special focus on providing equitable access to STEM learning, the foundation partners with schools and organizations to create transformational educational experiences that prepare students for college, careers, and life. Learn more at www.camposfoundation.com.
A striking mural at Urban Promise Academy captures the school’s spirit of activism, creativity, and resilience. With students rising as artists, scholars, and warriors, this visual message sets the perfect tone for the transformational impact of the new SmartLab.
𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐔𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲
Urban Promise Academy (UPA) is a public middle school in the Oakland Unified School District dedicated to providing a safe, supportive, and academically rigorous environment where all students can thrive. Located in the heart of Oakland, UPA emphasizes equity, community engagement, and real-world learning experiences to prepare students for success in high school, college, and beyond. Learn more at urbanpromise.ousd.org.
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Creative Learning Systems
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Campos EPC funded STEM SmartLab
9 News spotlighted the Campos Foundation’s mission to empower underrepresented minorities and women in STEM. Catch Deanna Campos and STEM students sharing how hands-on projects are shaping the future!
KOA NewsRadio interviewing Deanna Campos-Miller about the kickoff of National STEM Week
We are excited to announce that the Denver Academy High School Campos SmartLab is now open, and our students are exploring new opportunities. This new lab provides our students with an unparalleled hands-on learning experience in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
With the opening of the high school lab, DA became the only school in the nation (independent or public) with three separate Campos Foundation-sponsored labs. We now have the Elementary School Campos SmartLab, the Middle School Campos SmartLab and the High School Campos SmartLab. Creative Learning Systems (CLS), a Colorado company, again supplied its curated, research-based learning system, technology, and materials. CLS has remarked how special it is to install three SmartLabs on one campus for the first time. The Campos, CLS, and DA partnership provides students with amazing access to STEM projects that progress from foundational concepts to advanced applications.
All three of our Campos SmartLabs include the latest technology and equipment to support student learning. From 3D printers and robotics kits to drones and podcasting, our students gain access to a wide range of tools to enhance their learning experience.
DA educator Wanda Zimmermann was chosen as the High School Campos SmartLab facilitator because of her proven skills and enthusiasm for STEM education. She has taught high school science, math, and computer science at DA for 15 years and is the high school soccer coach. She and Ryan Stander, a high school science teacher, are coaching the new DA Robostang Robotics Team. The CenturyLink Foundation recognized Ms. Zimmerman as an educator who finds innovative ways to incorporate technology into the classroom to advance learning.
The High School Campos SmartLab will be an invaluable resource for our school community, and we are excited to see its positive impact on our students’ education. We now have a science, math, robotics, and technology pathway at DA from our youngest students to our oldest students. Thank you, Campos Foundation, for your generous support.
DA will host a grand opening event for DA High School parents on Tuesday, Nov. 2. DA parents will have an opportunity to explore the room and see how students engage with the innovative projects and activities. Representatives from the Campos Companies and CLS also will attend to celebrate this successful partnership. Details will be available soon.
The University of Colorado Boulder expanded its free college program to serve students specifically in its engineering school.
Engineering students from low-income families at the University of Colorado Boulder will be able to earn their degrees for free under an expansion of the school’s CU Promise program.
It’s the first time the university has created a free college program specific to one field. Lattice Scholars is propped up by a donation from local engineering firm Campos EPC and provides financial and academic support to low-income Colorado students who are the first to go to college in their family.
The program is significant because students from low-income backgrounds are underrepresented in STEM fields, and STEM degrees often lead to the kind of high-paying jobs that can change the economic trajectory of entire families.
The program provides free tuition to first-generation Colorado students whose families make less than $65,000 a year. Students don’t need to apply. Instead, the school identifies eligible full-time students through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
Keith Molenaar, dean of the university’s College of Engineering and Applied Science, said the donation shows how business leaders can help more Coloradans from backgrounds that are less represented at CU Boulder and colleges across the state realize their dreams of higher education.
“We’ve shown we can do it,” Molenaar said. “We’re really looking forward to having other schools and colleges try to expand this across the university.”
This year, the school doubled the number of students who can qualify for the CU Promise program, which now serves about 3,500 students.
In a news release, school leaders said the expansion happened through donations and a new law this year that allows the school to enroll more out-of-state students who pay higher tuition if it provides more aid to Colorado students.
The Lattice Scholars program, however, is the first within a specific program and the first sustained by a major donation.
About 65 students this year are part of the Lattice Scholars program. Those students also get academic and advising support to help them finish college.
Mindy Zarske, an integrated design engineering teaching professor, said students learn about financial wellness, academic skills, and life after they leave the dorms. Students also get to connect with other scholars, which helps them form a network they can rely on, she said.
Zarske said it’s important to not only remove financial barriers for first-generation students, but help them get comfortable with navigating college life. That helps scholars “feel more empowered,” she said. Faculty and staff also learn how to better help students when money isn’t an issue.
“Are they able to focus better if we provide them with support? How does that help them persist? This is their dream and we want to get them there,” she said.
Marco Campos, whose foundation and engineering business Campos EPC donated to make the Lattice program happen, said it’s important for him to give back to diverse students who want to go into engineering. Campos graduated from CU Boulder’s engineering school as a low-income, first-generation student, so helping others with similar backgrounds is a mission of his.
He also said helping diverse students allows his company to find employees with different life experiences. He hopes other business leaders see the value in helping students.
“It’s just doing the right thing,” Campos said. “My hope is that this platform will serve as a big enough sounding board for one or two other companies, whatever it is, to get motivated.”
SMARTLAB ENABLES STUDENTS TO COLLABORATE ON HANDS-ON PROJECTS FOCUSING ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH PROJECTS, COMMONLY KNOWN AS STEM.
Students at St. Joseph Catholic School in Placentia have been engaging with a high-tech workspace called the SmartLab.
As Diocese of Orange schools celebrate Catholic Schools Week, the addition of a SmartLab is one example of the efforts being made by Diocese schools to strengthen students’ faith and learning experiences.
Serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade, the SmartLab is equipped with computers and advanced programing, enabling students to learn science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“It gives them ownership in what we do here at school,” St. Joseph principal Amanda Hawley said. “And it gives them the experience to work with somebody, accept critiques, really work on what someone needs and be able to put out something that they can be proud of.”
With 12 workstations that can accommodate up to 24 students, SmartLab enables students to collaborate on hands-on projects focusing on science, technology, engineering and math projects, commonly known as STEM.
When combined with art programming, as is the case with St. Joseph, the curriculum is often referred to as STEAM.
The school acquired the SmartLab through its relationship with Campos EPC, an Engineering, Procurement and Construction company with offices in nearby Anaheim.
When Campos was opening its new Anaheim office in 2020, company administrators were looking to identify a school in the area that they could support with both educational materials as well as engineers to teach and inspire students about their industry, Hawley said.
In March 2022, Campos engineers installed a SmartLab at St. Joseph. Shortly after the SmartLab was installed, Bishop Kevin Vann visited St. Joseph to celebrate Mass and bless the new workspace. SmartLab users utilize elements such as Snap Circuits, K’nex machines, Ozbots and Claymation stop motion video.
In December, Campos engineers returned to St. Joseph and gifted some of the latest SmartLab technology used for media arts, including Go Pros and a robotic camera.
“We wanted to come to have the opportunity to see what you guys have been working on, and perhaps focus on this upcoming year with film arts,” Campos engineer Christien Lindblom told students during his visit. “Science, technology, engineering and math are very dear to our hearts, and we are really happy to be here.”
Campos engineers will continue to visit St. Joseph to help students become more proficient in SmartLab.
The lab has helped students become more focused and build stronger critical thinking skills that they will take with them into high school and use in all areas of their lives, said St. Joseph technology coordinator James Weiss, who teaches science and STEM classes.
“It’s been so amazing just getting the opportunity to see the kids, because the STEM lab is so different,” Weiss said. “In a normal classroom, it tends to be me giving them information and then they have to absorb it, use it and figure out how it works. Whereas, in here it’s not necessarily me being the end-all expert on things. It’s more that they have the technology and then they are figuring out how to use it. Teaching themselves in a sense, figuring it out for themselves.”
In September, St. Anne Catholic School in Santa Ana also installed a SmartLab, which was partially paid for by John and Barbara Heffernan, who have spent decades supporting the school with monetary and in-kind donations.
