Shafter High School celebrated its first class of 19 students that graduated from the school’s “Project Lead the Way” program, which focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math.

Elena Melendez, was on a team of three senior girls that built an electronic towel sanitizer, says the four-year STEM curriculum was rewarding.

“It was very rigorous – we had to stay on task, we had to manage our time very well, (and) we had to make sure that we were working efficiently,” she said.

Carlos Santana says he and a partner made their robotic lawnmower a reality over the course of  the school year.

“We finished our project, and we got it to do what we intended for it to do in the beginning of the year,” he said. “I feel really great right now.”

The school says up to 40 freshmen could join the program next year.

– Anthony Pollreisz