While the summer months usually mean a break from school and a time to relax for most students, this will not be the case for a dedicated group from Ironton High School.

Project Lead the Way juniors Bela Delawder and Lexie Payne, senior Kylie Hopper and instructor Sarah Humphreys, will instead be working while school is out to collect water samples around the city.

This is being done as part of a final project for PLTW for the students and in cooperation with the city of Ironton’s filtration plant.

As the students have learned, older homes are most at risk of contamination from lead and copper in aging pipes.

Not only will these students be learning more about this subject, but they will be providing a valuable public service.

It is another example of how the PLTW program, through Collins Career Technical Center, has been a blessing to our county.

We thanks these students in advance for their work for the public.