{"id":653234,"date":"2026-03-30T21:34:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T21:34:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/653234\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T21:34:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T21:34:17","slug":"d-backs-donation-transforms-title-ix-school-in-phoenix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/653234\/","title":{"rendered":"D-backs donation transforms Title IX school in Phoenix"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHOENIX \u2014 Just a mile from Chase Field, where home runs and fan applause fill the stadium, something quieter, but just as powerful, is happening inside a local classroom.<\/p>\n

At ASU Preparatory Academy Pilgrim Rest, about 200 kindergarteners through eighth-grade students are experiencing a new kind of learning\u2014one that goes far beyond textbooks.<\/p>\n

ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest is a Title IX school where more than 40% of the students come from low-income households, according to Principal Marissa Schneckloth.<\/p>\n

But thanks to community support and a major donation from the Arizona Diamondbacks, students now have access to cutting-edge technology that is reshaping their education.<\/p>\n

A Classroom That Feels Like Another World<\/p>\n

Inside the school\u2019s Dreamscape Learning Lab, lessons come to life through virtual reality and cinematic storytelling.<\/p>\n

Students don virtual reality (VR) headsets and are transported to entirely different worlds\u2014from outer space to prehistoric times.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe seat actually has what they refer to as \u2018butt kickers,\u2019\u201d Schneckloth explained. \u201cSo it vibrates as you\u2019re in the experience. If you\u2019re going through the moon and there\u2019s a rocky spot, your actual chair will vibrate. It really gives you that full-body experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

For students, that immersion makes learning unforgettable.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m in the intergalactic center,\u201d one student said during a session.<\/p>\n

Bridging the Technology Gap<\/p>\n

For school leaders, this lab represents more than innovation \u2014 it\u2019s equity.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of times in communities like ours, technology like this never gets here because it\u2019s simply unaffordable,\u201d said Richard Yarbough. \u201cBut we want to flip the script and make our students and our community the first ones to have access to this.\u201d<\/p>\n

The lab is a natural fit for the school\u2019s focus on STEAM education\u2014science, technology, engineering, arts, and math\u2014giving students hands-on experiences that deepen understanding.<\/p>\n

Real Results in the Classroom<\/p>\n

The impact is already measurable. In just three years, the school has improved from a \u201cD\u201d rating to a \u201cB,\u201d with ambitions to climb even higher.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur five-year marker is, of course, to be an \u2018A,\u2019\u201d Schneckloth said. \u201cBut truly, every year, every student that walks through our doors, we want them to excel academically, socially, emotionally\u2014and we want them to believe in themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

That shift is clear in students like 9-year-old Marlyn Brown, who now looks forward to subjects like math. \u201cWe do division, and I love division,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd we\u2019re doing geometry, and I feel like geometry is really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

Powered by Community Support<\/p>\n

The transformation at ASU Preparatory Academy Pilgrim Rest was made possible in part by a $100,000 donation from Diamondbacks Charities, helping provide a tuition-free, STEAM-focused education for families in the community. From virtual reality labs to rising academic performance, this Phoenix school is proving that when opportunity meets innovation, students don\u2019t just learn\u2014they thrive.<\/p>\n

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