A major step forward for youth STEM education has been made this week, as the Halo Foundation has formally transferred a set of new air conditioning units to Verlyn Richards, principal of St. John’s Catholic School. The equipment upgrade is intended to lay the groundwork for the campus’ upcoming TechByte STEM Academy, which is on track to welcome its first cohort of students in September 2026.
The climate control upgrade will transform learning spaces at the academy, giving students a far more comfortable environment to dive into hands-on STEM projects, conduct exploratory work, and build technical skills outside the constraints of traditional, lecture-based classroom settings.
The official handover ceremony was led by Her Excellency Lady Sandra Williams, president of the Halo Foundation. This donation is not an isolated contribution: it forms a core part of early preparations for the foundation’s new signature program, H.O.W. with Halo – short for Hope, Opportunity and Well-being through STEM. The initiative is being developed in partnership with Elijah James, founder of local tech platform The LocaL App, and aligns with Lady Williams’ long-standing commitments under the broader Fostering the Future Initiative.
The H.O.W. with Halo program traces its roots to the Global Coalition Summit of First Spouses, an international gathering hosted by former U.S. First Lady Melania Trump in Washington, D.C., scheduled for March 24-25, 2026. At its core, the initiative aims to build accessible pathways for young people to develop the critical skills, foundational knowledge, and self-confidence needed to thrive in all areas of their future lives, whether they pursue further education, enter the workforce, or engage in civic leadership.
In remarks at the handover, Lady Williams emphasized that intentional investment in accessible learning infrastructure is a prerequisite to creating impactful opportunities for youth. “Creating the right environment for young people to learn is an important part of creating meaningful pathways,” she said. “We want young people, especially girls, to have spaces where they can explore, experiment, build confidence and discover what they are capable of.”
James echoed this focus on experiential learning, noting that existing youth programs under the partnership – DadliBots and BRIGHT Hacks – have long centered on learning through hands-on practice. “This support from Halo Foundation helps us create more interactive spaces where that learning can continue beyond the summer, towards a year-round model after-school model,” James explained.
Looking ahead, the full launch of H.O.W. with Halo is designed to serve 3,000 students each year, and organizers are actively inviting other mission-aligned organizations to join the partnership to expand reach further. Additional details regarding student registration and available scholarship opportunities will be released publicly as the initiative approaches its official launch date.