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Lake Central student pitches 'Ready, Set, Grow' greenhouse, asks district to consider grant partnership
Summary
Eleventh-grader Ethan Hollins demonstrated a phase‑3 prototype of the Ready, Set, Grow urban greenhouse and requested grant or district support to pilot a STEM program; he said phase‑1 costs are about $1,500 and he is seeking roughly $1,000 in outside funding per unit.
Eleventh-grader Ethan Hollins presented a phase‑3 prototype of the Ready, Set, Grow urban greenhouse at the Lake Central School Corporation board meeting on May 18 and asked the district to consider a grant partnership to add a STEM program around the device.
Hollins described the product as a modular, climate‑controlled greenhouse with an AI assistant called Iris, rainwater harvesting, LED grow lights and a hydroponics module. He said the unit is portable between classrooms, can hold about 67 plants, and that his team has developed a third, stronger prototype after earlier versions failed in wind testing.
On costs, Hollins said phase 1 of the program would cost roughly $1,500 per unit. He said he has covered about $550 through his business work and family donations and that about $1,000 remains to be secured through grants or seed funding. He told trustees he plans a July app launch and a pilot with 12 families and asked the district to consider a grant proposal and help running a school-based STEM program.
Board members invited questions; Hollins described uses for herbs, small vegetables and larger plants using an open roof and said the unit incorporates solar charging. He also solicited volunteers from science departments to support classroom integration. The board did not take a vote on a district financial commitment; Hollins’ request was presented for consideration and follow-up by administrators.
