Innova was founded with a clear mission: empowering Rochester girls through STEAM education and building a generation of innovative leaders and confident problem-solvers. As the school geared up for its inaugural class, they were moving forward with a Chromebook purchase until a chance conversation changed the direction.

Shift2 Executive Director Megan Alchowiak met an Innova board member at a Greater Rochester Chamber Policy Matters event on June 28th. One conversation led to another, and the following day Shift2 connected with the school’s administration to present an alternative: refurbished laptops that outperformed the proposed Chromebooks at a fraction of the cost.

The savings came out to nearly $11,000, and the students ended up with a more capable machine.

With the school year set to start in August, there were only four weeks to make it happen. Shift2 delivered all 68 laptops well before the first bell rang.

For a brand new school still building out its budget and programs, that kind of flexibility matters. The right technology, ready on time, at a cost that left room for everything else Innova needed to get off the ground.

Here’s to Innova Girls Academy and the students who walked through those doors ready to build something.