JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Johnson City School System received a long-awaited new addition this week, the Star Lab.

Thanks to the Johnson City Public School Foundation’s Spell-A-Bration fundraiser, schools across the district will soon gain access to the Star Lab, a project funded with the help of the collected $60,000. The foundation referred to the Star Lab as the “future of education.”

“The Star Lab will literally introduce our students to new worlds,” stated the foundation in a release. “It will enable them to explore the cosmos, deepen their understanding of our place in the universe, and ignite a lifelong interest in science, technology, and discovery. Your support is crucial in shaping the future of education in our community, and we are profoundly grateful.”

The Johnson City School System hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Star Lab on Thursday.

“I’ve had this displayed in the library for the past week while practicing, and the students passing by say, is that the Star Lab?” shared Anna Armstrong, Librarian at Liberty Bell Middle, with WJHL.

The Star Lab will be used by teachers to give students a visual opportunity to observe stars and earth in a different way.