The Parkersburg High School Foundation recently received a $25,000 gift from the Minnite Family Charitable Fund to support updates to the Dwight O. Conner Planetarium. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG – The Parkersburg High School Foundation recently received a $25,000 gift from the Minnite Family Charitable Fund to support updates to the Dwight O. Conner Planetarium.

“We’re grateful to the Minnite family for their generosity,” Fred Earley, Parkersburg High School Foundation board president, said in a press release from the foundation. “The support of the Minnite Family Charitable Fund allows us to move forward with the much-needed updates to the PHS Planetarium, ensuring it continues to serve as a place of discovery, inspiration and learning for students and the community for years to come.”

Constructed in the early 1960s during the height of the Space Age, the planetarium was part of a national movement to expand science and space education, the release said. The facility was made possible through a partnership among the Wood County Board of Education, the Rotary Club of Parkersburg, Corning Glass Works and funding from the National Defense Education Act.

The goal of the current planetarium update is to significantly enhance the learning

experience through the installation of high-definition digital projection, modern seating and lighting, advanced astronomy software and improved sound and accessibility, the release said.

“As a family, we’re proud to support PHS and its planetarium,” said Karmyn Minnite-Conley. “Each of us carries unique memories of our time at PHS, and this gift is our way of giving back and investing in the future. As PHS graduates, we were fortunate to learn and grow through the experiences the planetarium provided, and we want to ensure that same opportunity remains available for generations to come.”

The $25,000 contribution was made through the family’s Donor Advised Fund, the Minnite Family Fund, managed by the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation.

Through this fund, the family is able to direct charitable support to causes that reflect their shared values and ongoing commitment to the Parkersburg community, the release said.

More information about supporting the PHS Foundation and the planetarium project can be found online at parkersburghighschoolfoundation.org.