St. Mary's students 'place their name in history' at construction site of future STEM center

ERIN WEEKS, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·1 min read

Apr. 25—Students at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School were able to sign two steel beams that will be used in the construction of the school's new STEM center.

According to Patrick Wray, the parish's director of administration, these two beams will connect the existing campus building to the new building. Wray also said that the building is still on track to be finished in August, and is now around 65% complete.

The St. Mary's School STEM building will be a space where students can explore the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Present at the April 18 signing event was Pam Johnston, the wife of Rob Johnston. He originally proposed the idea of the STEM center several years ago, and was a major donor.

Johnston said that her husband, who was raised in Aiken and attended St. Mary's, is "very, very anxious to leave some wisdom behind, and pass along some of the blessings that he has been given."

"He is so grateful for the community that helped him grow into the man he could be," Johnston said about her husband. "It's very important for him to give back."

Johnston said tearfully that it meant "a lot" to her to see the students signing the beams and to see her husband's vision "come to completion so quickly."

Katie Craney, an office staff member at St. Mary's, said that this beam signing gives the kids "opportunity to leave their mark in this new building that will b here to serve generations to come."