You're on track to get doubled donations (and unlock a reward for the colleague who referred you). Keep up the great work!
Take credit for your charitable giving! Check out your tax receipts
Donate
To use your $50 gift card credits, find a project to fund and we'll automatically apply your credits at checkout. Find a classroom project
Menu
Skip to main content

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Your school email address was successfully verified.

See this teacher's page

This teacher needs your help!

Mr. Fluharty from Chicago, IL is requesting technology through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mr. Fluharty is requesting

Chicago Students Construct/Operate a Biodiesel Reactor

My students need the necessary equipment to make and test biodiesel from waste cooking oil from the school cafeteria, culinary arts shop and local fast food restaurants.

  • $5,932 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Celebrate Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

My Students

A solid foundation in STEM education is important. Judith Hallinen, an educator at Carnegie Mellon University says, "There is a misconception amongst some educators that STEM-related studies are meant for elite students." STEM education is necessary at all levels from 1st grade to college

My school is a vocational high school that serves 1,500 inner city students.

The student population is 60% Hispanic, 35% African American, and 5% Caucasian. Over 80% receive free or reduced meals. Students study the career and technical fields of automotive technology, culinary arts, digital media, HVAC, and machine technology. In addition, students are provided with a rigorous sequence of academic subjects that prepares them for college and careers. I am always looking for projects that combine vocational and academic studies while addressing aspects of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). My students need a project that is crosses the gap and demonstrates the connection between vocational and academic studies while providing hands-on experience in real-world issues. This project-converting waste cooking oil into biodiesel fuel-will teach "green" technologies while integrating the curriculum of different areas of the school.

My Project

The goal of this project is to provide the necessary training and equipment students can manufacture and test biodiesel fuel made from waste cooking oil. The waste oil will be obtained from the culinary arts shop and nearby fast food restaurants. Specifically, students will construct a small biodiesel processor using a kit purchased from a vendor. Students will be responsible for the construction and operation of the processor. In the process, students will learn the technologies used to manufacture chemical products, technologies that involve tanks, mixing, piping, pumping, heating, and temperature measurement. In order to ensure a quality product, students will setup and operate a lab to test the waste oil and adjust batch parameters based on their data. The students will also create storage for the biodiesel fuel. Fuel that is produced will be donated to a biodiesel truck used to provide food to underserved neighborhoods in our city.

The aim is for students to experience the 'Design Cycle' approach to solving problems.

Student's research, design, construct, test, analyze performance in response to specific problems. Understanding the problem-solving process should emerge through the pursuit of this activity. Scientific principles and hand-tool and machine-tool skills are exercised through a need-to-use basis. This project achieves a goal of the Next Generation Science Standards to incorporate engineering into instruction.

Mr. Fluharty
Grades 9-12

Boost your odds

Add a profile photo in addition to your classroom photo. If you add a photo, it'll show up right here on your project page.

You are more likely to receive funding if you put a face to your name.

Upload a photo

Top rated for efficiency and transparency.

You donate directly to the teacher or project you care about and see where every dollar you give goes.

Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Mr. Fluharty is requesting.

See our finances

TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

You can start a project with the same resources being requested here!

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Personal Home Biodiesel Kit • Biodiesel-Kits-Online $4,495.00 1 $4,495.00

Materials cost

$4,495.00

Vendor shipping charges

 $449.50

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$67.42

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$5,041.92

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$889.75

Total project goal

$5,931.67

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $5,931.67

1 Donor

-$5,931.67

Donations toward project cost

-$5,041.92

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$889.75

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

View complete list Show less

Give the most requested basic supplies

See teacher requests

Give back to your community

Find opportunities to impact local needs by exploring a map of classroom projects near you.

See local area

Project Activity

Project Activity
Back to top

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Fluharty and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works
{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":true,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"IL","teacherPossessivePronoun":"his","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":4,"name":"High School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/chicago-students-constructoperate-a-bio/1265893/","mayHaveReplacements":false,"numStudents":200,"teacherScreenName":"Mr. Fluharty","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"1441741699","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"photosPublished":true,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"schoolCity":"Chicago","teachersOnPage":[109398],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":false,"proposalId":1265893,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"authorIds":{"109398":{"owner":"Mr. Fluharty","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[1265893],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp109398_272x272.jpg?width=136&height=136&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1502739990586","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":21,"teacherChallengeId":60753,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":["MjQxMzE3Nw=="],"teacherId":109398,"schoolCounty":"Cook","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"IL","name":"Illinois"}}
Supporting teachers and students since 2000

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a classroom in need. Public school teachers from every corner of America create classroom project requests, and you can give any amount to the project that inspires you.

We've earned the highest possible ratings from Better Business Bureau, Charity Watch, Charity Navigator, and Guidestar.