The Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE) added a new partner in education to its rapidly growing list of supporters this week with the donation of $100,000 from Monte Sano Research Corporation (MSRC).

The presentation of the donation, which will go toward the construction of ASCTE’s permanent school and residential facilities, took place at the site of the permanent ASCTE campus at 229 Wynn Drive in Huntsville. The school will open its doors this August as it enters its third year of operation.

The few notable attendees at the check and plaque presentation included Steven Thornton, CEO and President of Monte Sano Research Corp., as well as ASCTE Board of Trustees and Foundation members and ASCTE President Matt Massey..

Prior to a champagne toast, ASCTE Foundation Executive Director PeggyLee Wright recognized the Foundation Board for spearheading the creation of the school.

“It is actually our Foundation Board that first got this school kicked off and started by petitioning it to the state, and with the help of folks like Maj. Gen. Ret. Barbara Fast they were able to convince Governor Ivey that this was a very necessary school for the state,” Wright said.

Wright also noted that the selection of Matt Massey to lead the school came about after three nationwide searches, which all led back to him as the most qualified person for the position.

Foundation Board Vice President Pat Sullivan led a toast to MSRC, thanking them for their contributions to the school, students, teachers, and the state of Alabama. Wright then addressed the audience: “I want to tell you that as a small business, MSRC giving us $100,000 to our school for this capital campaign is absolutely huge. For that, we are incredibly grateful.”

“What a privilege to be able to be here and be with you today. Monte Sano Research in its own way is a miracle company…and we want to say that this, too, is a miracle that has come about as we continue to educate our young children in an environment with more and more challenges, more adversaries,” Thornton said.

“To have a performance-based institution specifically designed to promote cyber technology, engineering, and science in Huntsville, Alabama, the Rocket City, the home of UAH, the birthplace and namesake of many engineering and science companies supporting our warfighters–this is an ultimate opportunity and privilege and on behalf of Monte Sano Research and its employees we say thank you. We’re just so glad to be a part of it,” he added.

Massey, sporting a cowboy hat-style construction helmet, then stepped up to thank MSRC: “This is literally a life-changing moment for these students that we’re bringing from all across the state. Many of them are in disadvantaged communities or from disadvantaged situations and your gift and partnership is what’s going to help swing the tide for them and make a ripple effect, an impact not just here but across the nation.”

Following the check and plaque presentations, Massey led the visitors on a tour of the campus construction site, pointing out the future locations of various features including a makerspace lab, cyber labs, flexible spaces, engineering workshops, and the learning space that will be named in honor of Monte Sano Research. One part of the school that Massey is particularly proud of is the “schola,” an auditorium facing a wide swath of windows that look out on the school’s wooded 23-acre property.

Massey also noted the Saturn V rocket, easily visible from the schola, which he said presents “a reminder of where we are.” The space, which is designed to seat 400, will have a wall of screens that can be lowered in order to darken the room for presentations.

When asked about its tornado shelter, Massey responded that they decided to put it under the dorm area so the kids would have easy access from both the dorms and the cafeteria. The school also has a unique fire suppression system Massey referred to as a “fire ring,” a rolling contraption that will seal off the third level in the event of fire while allowing students extra time to escape. The tornado shelter also uses innovative engineering techniques to provide extra protection for the students in the event of disaster.

Massey also noted the future site of the Arcadia mixed-use development located directly across Bradford Drive from ASCTE.

“Once we got here that piece of property became a lot more valuable. That was part of the plan for the City of Huntsville, if we put this here we’d kind of liven up CRP East and so, yeah, we’re going to have some good neighbors across there, and they’re gonna get sidewalks that go down towards University [Drive] just a quarter of a mile down the hill there.”

Construction firm Brasfield & Gorrie has remained largely on target with respect to budget and time and, according to Massey, the school will receive its certificate of occupancy in mid-July.

“There are other school systems in the area that are delaying the opening of schools by six months, a year, and we have stayed on project in what’s been a pretty complicated thing with the site…it’s been a pretty remarkable job,” Massey said.