Duffield STEAM

Preparing Students for the 21st Century Workplace

The Duffield STEAM Initiative has made possible state-of-the-art renovations and enhancements to Ridgewood High School (RHS) to support the growing needs of its robust curricular program designed to prepare students for the 21st-century workplace through hands-on experiences. Three large-scale improvement projects under this umbrella initiative are the Innovation & Makerspace Lab, the Media Lab - TV & Recording Studio, and the Culinary Arts Lab. Through the generous gift of the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation, RHS students will reap significant benefits for years to come. Aligned with the district’s vision of instilling a passion and drive for lifelong learning by developing key “habits of learning” (critical thinking, empathy, creativity, and resilience), the Duffield STEAM Initiative directly supports the development of these essential qualities that contribute to success in academic pursuits, career, and citizenship.

Duffield STEAM

Innovation & Makerspace Lab

The Innovation & Makerspace Lab is a leading hub of creativity thanks to the significant upgrades in new high-tech tools and equipment. This unique learning environment in the high school is open to the entire student body in addition to being used by the art department on a daily basis. Some headliners featured in this exciting design and prototyping space are the Stratasys F170 3D printer, the Mimaki UCJV300-130 Series large format vinyl printer/cutter, the Techno HD-II 20x34 CNC router, and the Epilog Fusion Edge 24 60-Watt laser engraver. These pieces of industry-standard equipment combined with a classroom set of new laptops, virtual reality tools, digital SLR cameras, and a portable AC/DC electrical learning system result in an environment comparable to what students will encounter in college and the workplace.

Makerspace Lab
Makerspace Lab
printer

Learn more about how the new equipment is being used in the classroom & beyond.

Segment from March 2022 RHS-TV News Show

Media Lab - TV & Recording Studio

The Media Lab - TV & Recording Studio has undergone a transformation from analog to digital video technology. Through the Duffield STEAM Initiative, the TV Studio has been modernized and reconfigured to significantly enhance the student experience. New video cameras with teleprompters and a vocal booth were also added to this widely-used space. Part of the upgrade includes adding user-friendly video and audio equipment and a green screen to create a satellite media lab in the Learning Commons, a modern library and media center. The to-go kits are accessible to all students for individual or group video projects to capture and create multimedia on location without needing advanced TV production knowledge.

RHS "In the Studio" Series

The RHS TV Club and RHS Recording Studio are excited to release the first episode of our new series, In the Studio. Based off of the popular "Tiny Desk Concert" series by NPR, the goal of the In the Studio series is to feature the variety of musicians and ensembles at Ridgewood HS in all genres of music. Both the TV Club and Recording Studio Club worked behind the scenes to produce this show and are excited to share it with the RHS community. The new television equipment, purchased through the Duffield STEAM Initiative, was utilized during the shoot! New camera angles, HD video and seamless communication between audio and video! We will be releasing a new episode every month (you'll love what we have in store for February!)

Culinary Arts Lab

The Culinary Arts Lab renovation will transform the outdated kitchen classroom into a professional, modern culinary facility with a design that maximizes usability, efficiency, and purpose. This lab is utilized for some of the high school’s consumer science courses, which typically hit the maximum enrollment. The new culinary workstations will improve efficiency and classroom flow. The Culinary Arts Lab is also a popular after-school spot for co-curricular clubs and evening adult programs. Funding for a modern, professional culinary lab is now a reality thanks to the Duffield STEAM Initiative.

Dave Duffield

About Dave Duffield

David A. Duffield, Class of 1958

Dave Duffield is an enterprise software entrepreneur who founded six companies, including two that grew to be publicly traded global business leaders, PeopleSoft and Workday. He is currently the founder and CEO of Ridgeline, a startup building a software platform for the investment management industry.

Dave is known for making employees and customer service a top priority, and his companies are known for their focus on core values and strong people-based cultures. He is a father of 10, grandfather of 9, husband, and philanthropist. His first family foundation, Maddie’s Fund, is a leading nationwide influencer and supporter of innovative solutions in animal welfare. His current foundation, the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation, supports his local community, veterans, and companion animal welfare.

He has a special interest in giving back to the educational institutions that provided him with an exceptional experience. In addition to supporting the Duffield STEAM Initiative at Ridgewood High, Dave is the benefactor behind Duffield Hall, one of the country’s most sophisticated research and teaching facilities for nanoscale science and engineering at Cornell University, where Dave earned a B.S. in electrical engineering (‘62) and an MBA (‘64).

While at Ridgewood High, Dave received the top math award for the Class of 1958 (a new slide rule), threw the first no-hitter in school history, and was named a New Jersey All-State (Honorable Mention) baseball pitcher.

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