CSMS presents Medline with a plaque. From L-R are: D75 STEAM Foundation Chair Nikki Earich; Paul Imaoka of Medline; CSMS teacher Brian Longly; Michael Gerskovich of Medline; Emma Zisook of Medline; Andrea Bonilla of Medline; and CSMS Principal Mark Pilut.
Thanks in part to Medline and the Mundelein District 75 STEAM Foundation, Carl Sandburg Middle School has a state-of-the-art multimedia studio complete with a sound room, green screen and audio/video editing equipment.
The school presented Medline with a plaque on March7 recognizing the family-led medical products supplier for donating $20,000 toward the project.
“It’s because of dedicated community partners like the D75 STEAM Foundation and generous corporate partners like Medline that we can provide such a robust educational program for our students,” said CSMS Principal Mark Pilut. “We’re fortunate to be the recipients of their goodwill and our children are fortunate to learn real-life skills using professional-grade multimedia equipment.”
“Not only does Medline operate our office complex and manufacturing facility in Mundelein, but we also have many team members who live in the village and send their kids to school here,” said Mike Gerskovich, Medline Vice President of Manufacturing in Mundelein. “We’re proud to support the District 75 STEAM Foundation’s vision for a new multi-media lab come to fruition, which strengthens students’ technology skills and school programming.”
The project to turn two classrooms into a functional television and audio recording studio is gradually being completed throughout the year. Students will use the space to learn more about filmmaking, film scoring, audio recording, digital mixing and much more.
CSMS students have broadcast their “Tiger News Network” broadcasts from the space and the school held its annual spelling bee to a virtual audience in January, thanks to the studio. Cork wall boards were recently added to finish a soundbooth room and more technology and wiring will be added soon.
Attendees of the winter and summer STEAM camps at CSMS will also take advantage of the multimedia studio. The STEAM Foundation has sought out grants for the project over the last couple of years and Medline’s was the largest they received.
“We’re so grateful to Medline for providing the necessary funding for this project,” said STEAM Foundation Chair Nikki Earich. “It’s exciting to see our middle-schoolers have access to technology they might not otherwise use until high school. It provides a nice head-start for them.”