Department of Energy Under Secretary for Infrastructure, David Crane, visits The Match’s new campus

On Thursday, July 11, The Match High School and Career Center (The Match) hosted the Under Secretary for Infrastructure at the Department of Energy, David Crane, on a tour of its new campus.

In 2023, Matchbook Learning was selected alongside 23 other organizations for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Renew America’s Schools Grant. This competitive grant received over 1,000 applications and totaled over $5.3 million to be used for critical facility and energy improvement funding.  

The Match, authorized by Education One at Trine University, is the first of the grant recipients to break ground on their building.  The Match leadership team, including Principal James Hill, Dean Johani Johnson, and CTE Director Taundra Miles-Cranor, provided a tour for Under Secretary Crane with Director of Community Development Clynde Bodkin and Ameresco’s Sr. Project Developer, Brad Driver. As the first recipient to break ground, Under Secretary Crane’s visit celebrates how grant funds are directly impacting Indiana youth. Five future Match students and their families were able to join the tour.

Future Match student Iris expressed her excitement to make new friends and join in extra-curricular activities, “I really enjoyed the tour and being able to see the high school in process…I am really happy that there is a high school near my house and in west Indianapolis.”

The Match is a continuation of the Matchbook Learning - Westside partnership. Matchbook Learning leadership emphasized how the school is the answer to the community’s request for a secondary option for students that provides skills to support employment, post-secondary enrollment, or enlistment, depending upon the path individual students choose.

Daniela, a future student at The Match, spoke to this excitement of new experiences and to, “join new groups and learn new skills.”

While the grant money has been used to renovate the buildings into sustainable, energy-efficient facilities, The Match will utilize this opportunity for students to learn from the renovations as part of their STEM pathways. Ameresco’s construction focused on key features, such as newly insulated walls and roof, solar panels, and most importantly, a living laboratory that will help technical education students see their learning in use.  

“The mechanics of the building were strategically exposed to become a lesson in itself,” stated Principal Hill.

The building will also serve as a disaster relief center, a community cooling and heating shelter, a shared substation for the police department, as well as educational buildings for the community.

The Match aims to achieve "Green Ribbon School" status within two years as part of its commitment to energy conservation. Adagloria, a future student at The Match, emphasized how “the tour was fun and wonderful that we get to see what we are going to learn throughout our high school career.”

The school is dedicated to offering an inclusive, technology-driven education that ensures every student has a clear path to success. Future Match parent Marisol was impressed with the building’s construction: “I liked everything. I’m excited to see my daughter graduate. The school is close to my house. It’s very beautiful.”

The first day of school for students is set for Aug. 1.

To learn more about Education One and The Match High School and Career Center visit: https://www.trine.edu/education-one/.