Malvern Prep's STEM Partnership Program Welcomes Students from Monteverde Friends School

Malvern Prep recently welcomed a group of students from the Monteverde Friends School in Costa Rica as part of the STEM Partnership Program (SPP). The SPP launched in the 2024-25 academic year, largely inspired by the Robotics team's 2024 World Championship appearance and by an Incubator Grant pursued by Malvern alumni Peter Bozzone ’25 and Matthew Crawford ’25. What began as an idea has since grown into a full cross-curricular experience centered in the sophomore class, with juniors and seniors participating as teaching assistants and through specific coursework.

For sophomores in the program, two terms are spent together as a cohort, moving through a carefully designed set of courses that build toward a shared goal - expanding STEM access, particularly in Spanish-speaking communities, through CAD, 3D printing, and robotics. Our students have traveled twice to Monteverde, and their students have just completed their second visit to our campus.

Looking ahead, the goal is to help Monteverde Friends School and El Instituto, a local community center and research hub, launch "Monteverde Robotics," a cooperative robotics competition modeled after our own Middle School program, but built around 3D-printed robots designed and made by the students in Monteverde.

"When we started this program, we hoped it would give our students a chance to make a real difference beyond our campus,” shared Dr. Kevin Quinn P’32, Upper School faculty member and SPP teaching team co-leader. “Watching that vision come to life, from installing 3D printing labs to welcoming students from Costa Rica into our hallways, has been incredible. This is just the beginning."

In its first full year, the work has already made a real impact. The program has installed functioning 3D printing labs, complete with printers, workspaces, and training, at St. Andrews School in Drexel Hill, the Upper Darby Municipal Library, and at Monteverde Friends School. Students and faculty have run workshops in Monteverde, at The Garage Community and Youth Center in Kennett Square and Avondale, and at El Instituto. The program has even collected and donated soccer equipment to support a local league in Monteverde.

"What makes this program special is that our students aren't just learning about global issues in a classroom; they're actually doing something about them. The connections they've built with their peers in Monteverde, and the work they've done in local communities, is the kind of learning that stays with you," shared Mr. Rob Buscaglia P’22’24’27, Upper School Spanish teacher and SPP teaching team co-leader.

From a World Championship robotics run and a student-led grant application to 3D printing labs in Drexel Hill and Costa Rica, the STEM Partnership Program is proof that a Malvern Prep education extends far beyond our campus.