New STEAM lab to serve an estimated 20K local students
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A little more than a day after it was announced that Tiger Woods is leading the design of a golf course at The Patch — local players of all ages are counting down the days until the site reopens next year.
Part of that announcement also caught the attention of local parents and teachers: Wood’s nonprofit, the TGR Foundation, is also bringing a ‘STEAM’ learning lab to the Richmond County School District.
Augusta will be home to one of only four nationally recognized science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) education centers, thanks to the project.
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The new project is going to be where the old Lamar Elementary School is located.
Leaders say when it’s completed in Spring of 2028, the site will offer free year-round STEAM enrichment, health and wellness programing and college and career readiness resources to students all over the CSRA.
The school district says it will serve students before the site is open.
Neighbors who live near the old Lamar Elementary building say they’ve been praying for years that someone would bring new life to the site.
Marylin Jones has lived next door to the school for 31 years.
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Her late husband, along with her two children, both went to Lamar, and she feels the new plan is an answer to her prayers.
“It’s a beautiful school, please don’t tear it down, but I am so happy that they are going to do what they are going to do with it,” Jones exclaims.
Just down the street, neighbor Chris Walker says the new site will offer a second chance for others to master the game.
“I think it will go a long way to show them, regardless of your background, regardless of your income, you can have a chance at that sport,” Walker says.
We spoke to Shawnda Stovall, president of Richmond County Schools, about their role in this partnership.
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“It’s just going to help students get better in math, help students get better in reading and comprehension, just going to help open up a world of careers that they probably would never have a chance to step foot in,” said Stovall “This is going to elevate them to be able to see the different types of STEAM initiatives.”
The TGR Learning Lab will serve all Richmond County School System students and teachers, and an estimated 20,000 additional students from neighboring schools within a 10-mile radius.
It will be a while before we see any significant changes, but The Patch is expected to open back up April 2026.
The TGR Learning Lab will open two years later in April 2028.
The school system will integrate lab-based learning experiences and project-based STEAM curriculum into its “Full STEAM Ahead” initiative.
The initiative is designed to expand access to high-quality STEAM instruction, inspire students to explore innovative, real-world solutions, and encourage stronger performance in math, science, and other core subjects.
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