Media teacher Mark Middlebrook received a $300,000 Career Technical Education (CTE) Incentive Grant that will be paid  over three years that will help expand the school’s existing broadcasting program.

The Perkins Grant is a federal grant that allows CTE teachers to be funded in order for students to have better learning tools and educational programs. Middlebrook and his teacher assistant Enrie Amezcua spent a week applying for this grant. They weren’t sure if they would receive it due to its late arrival.

“We worked really hard and stayed up late on most nights,” Middlebrook said. “We didn’t think we made it but it came through and we were happy to receive it.”

The grant, which starts in the 2018 school year, will be spent on new equipment such as new computers, new cameras, a cinema camera with cinema lenses, better sound equipment and professional lights. The funding will also allow the student broadcast program PNN to stream more live shows.

“This grant took a lot of time to apply for and I hope my students will get good use out of this,” Middlebrook said.