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Students urge Johns Creek to move faster on planned makerspace as VyStar donates $2,500 to student leadership program
Summary
High‑school students and program leaders told the council during public comment that a centralized makerspace would expand STEM access across Johns Creek; VyStar presented a $2,500 sponsorship to the Student Leadership program, which is rebranding to Student Leadership North.
VyStar Bank presented a $2,500 sponsorship to the Student Leadership program and students used the council’s public‑comment period to press for faster action on a proposed city makerspace.
During a short presentation, a VyStar representative thanked the city and said the bank plans to integrate into the community through volunteer work and local branch services. The bank’s presenter noted the company’s regional roots and community focus: “Were not just here to do business…we also wanna be integrated into the community,” the presenter said.
Several high‑school students then described limits in local STEM facilities and argued a makerspace would serve all three Johns Creek high schools. “I strongly urge all of us to consider funding and working on the makerspace as soon as possible,” said Alex Zhang, a Northview High School senior speaking for the TechnoTitans robotics team, who told council that a single, centralized facility would make workshop equipment and mentors accessible to many students.
Emerson Seagraves, also from Northview robotics, cited the city’s capital plan and asked for an update on retrofit work tied to Cawley Creek Park: agenda materials show $2.2 million in 2023 and $2.5 million in 2024 for a retrofit of the Cawley Creek wastewater facility into a makerspace, and Seagraves asked the city to publish how much has been spent, the timeline for certificate of occupancy and build‑out milestones. City staff did not provide a detailed spending breakdown during the meeting and told speakers they would follow up with more information.
Why it matters: Proponents say a shared makerspace would lower per‑school costs for high‑value equipment, expand participation in robotics and STEM outreach, and create local mentorship connections between industry and students. Council members thanked the students and acknowledged the request; staff committed to providing more details about the project timeline and expenditures.
