A new STEM center for students officially opening in Aiken County

AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF) – St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic school in Aiken County held a blessing and dedication ceremony Thursday to officially open its multi-million-dollar STEM Center after years in the making. 

“A lot of generous people have sacrificed, and given, and prayed, and worked to get to this point,” said Father Richard Wilson, Pastor.

The Bishop of Charleston, Bishop Jacques Fabre-Juene, went around the building and blessed it after the ceremony. The 18-thousand-square-foot facility features a lecture hall, seven new classrooms and labs, and an outdoor lab.

The building is the brainchild of local businessman Rob Johnston. He and his wife — Pamela — are donors and say this is just another sign of God’s work being able to fundraiser and get grants to help build the Blessed Carlo Acutis Stem Center.

“What better way to leave a lasting investment in the community than through living children,” said Pamela Johnston, Donor.

After Rob Johnston started at St Mary’s school in the 1st grade, he wanted to be able to give back.  The school instilled in him the value of learning, and it is where he met his best friends. He knew the school needed to attract more students to be relevant in 2025.

“This is going to be a life changer for every child in St. Mary. Or even outside of St. Mary that comes here,” said Rob Johnston, Proposed the STEM Center and Donor.  “Because the future of everything is going to be based on Technology and communication.”

Currently, the school has kindergarten through 8th grade students but will be adding Preschool classes for 3- and 4-year-olds next fall.

“We envision the STEM center being open to our K through 8 students,” Carlos Overstreet, Principal. “Currently, our primary-grade students utilize the STEM center with our STEM teachers, and then our upper-grade students have STEM classes that they utilize, that they come into the classroom on a daily basis.”

The STEM Center has room to grow.

We’re willing to do an expansion to this building and teach high school equivalent. So, these kids, whenever they leave here. They’re ready for college,” said Johnston.

They say that this learning environment will help prepare their students to think critically, problem solve, and use that knowledge to help lead them closer to God.