Barry Pounders, center, presents a check to the Phil Campbell High School Robotics and Rocketry Team, represented by (left to right) Star Gentry, Amber Ergle, Karlee Faust, Trenton McCulloch, Eli Jackson and Ben Williams.

By Nicole Burns for the FCT

Phil Campbell businesses are stepping up to get the Phil Campbell High School Robotics and Rocketry team, the PC Elite, off the ground. Recently, the owner of the Ambulance Billing Service in Phil Campbell, Barry Pounders, stopped by the school to present the team and its teacher/sponsor a check for $500.

“I thought you might need a little money, and I wanted to do what I could to help you,” Pounders told PCHS teacher Jonathan Grimes. Grimes and his team were overwhelmed by the unexpected gift and took a few minutes to talk with Pounders about what the team has been doing. Grimes said the rocket the team is currently working with for its spring competition will have the Ambulance Billing Service’s name on it, along with any other sponsors.

Pounders has been a longtime advocate for local students. “I like to see academics do well,” said Pounders. “We help the band quite a bit, and when I was reading about the rocket club and the robotics club, I thought it would be a good cause help the students and maybe help them get some scholarships.”

“We appreciate the donation by the Ambulance Billing Service along with the support local businesses and our community has shown to our team and their efforts,” said Grimes. “We will be announcing a few dates in January when the PC Elite will meet to work on and launch their rocket. We want the public and our sponsors to know that we would love for them to come watch these rocket launches.”

This is PC Elite’s first year tackling rocketry. The group plans to compete in the Team America Rocket Challenge next spring. Anyone interested in watching a live rocket launch by the PC Elite can keep a check on the PCHS Facebook page, where those dates will be announced.