Plano Rotary Club donation The Plano Rotary Club presented a $20,000 check to the Plano ISD Education Foundation Dec. 3. From left, Plano Rotary Club President Kelly Palmer, former rotary president Earnest Burke, Plano ISD Education Foundation Executive Director Jeanine Alpert, Plano ISD board President Nancy Humphrey, Plano ISD Superintendent Brian Binggeli, Plano ISD board Secretary Carrolyn Moebius and Plano ISD Education Foundation Vice President Chris Bragg.[/caption]

The Plano Rotary Club presented a $20,000 check to the Plano ISD Education Foundation on Friday, Dec. 3. The donation benefits PISD's Health Sciences Academy program at Williams High School and Plano East Senior High School, which focuses on preparing students for healthcare-related studies after graduation.

Rotary Club President Kelly Palmer said the organization wanted to focus on programs that helped school children succeed in continuing education. The club is in its third year of a five-year commitment to provide $100,000 to the Education Foundation.

The club wants to help teachers make the learning environment more innovative for students who are interested in pursuing a healthcare career, as well as helping children from low-to-medium income families.

"We term ourselves as the education club and we are happy to be part of that community. What better place to start tackling these issues than in our own backyard," he said.

About 236 high school students are currently enrolled in the four-year healthcare education program, said Heidi Cardenas, Plano ISD Health Sciences Academy coordinator. The curriculum is taught by both PISD faculty and Collin College professors. Students enrolled in the program also learn about the human body hands-on through a simulated environment with the use of mannequins.

"We [also] use funding from donors to pay for books, tuition and scrubs," Cardenas said.