The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Life!

November 25, 2012

Students First Mini Grants awarded

Beckley Area Foundation

One of 700 community foundations nationwide, Beckley Area Foundation makes grants in areas of arts, health, human services, civic beautification, public recreation and education. The Students First Mini Grant program is one of the Foundation’s many initiatives that supports education.  

BAF’s Board of Directors recently approved the 2012-2013 Students First Mini Grant Committee’s recommendations. Chaired by Deborah Songer Gray, Linda Polly and Dan Doman, this committee comprised of educators and community volunteers reviewed applications to determine those that demonstrated innovation and educational merit.

Working in collaboration with the Carter Family Foundation, BAF presented 28 grants totaling $10,000 during a Nov. 13 presentation ceremony before the Raleigh County Board of Education.This marks the 16th year of this program and, to date, $145,817.28 has been awarded to assist classroom teachers and their students.

The following are elementary grant recipients: Cindy Poling and Sara Toney, Bradley Elementary, “Ready or Not, Here I Grow!”; Belinda Harvey, St. Francis DeSales, “Shop for Math Success”; Allison Nettles, Bradley and Hollywood Elementary, “Small Things & Microscopes,” “Let’s Give ‘em Something to Write About” and “Exploring Mysteries — A Debate”;

Mike Williamson, Marsh Fork Elementary, “Go for the Bells”; Wendy Keeney, Coal City Elementary, “Jumpin’ Jumbie Jams!”; Julie Midkiff, Bradley Elementary, “Lego Mosaic Mural”; Jane Sutphin, Crescent Elementary, “Let’s Move to Improve”; Dru Ross, Beckley Elementary, “Bobcats Get Fit”;

Terri Gunter, Bradley Elementary, “This Isn’t Your Grandma’s Scrapbooking-Using Interactive Notebooks in the Classroom” and “Writing Is a Snap”; Tammy Acord, Bradley Elementary, “2nd Grade Has a Nose for News”; Diana Dillon, Marsh Fork Elementary, “A Picture Perfect Timeline”;

Elizabeth Ramey, Beckley Elementary, “Let There Be Light”; Toni Fuery, Fairdale Elementary, “Lights! Camera! Action!”; and Drema Lowe, Daniels Elementary, “Teaching Like It’s 2099”

Grants awarded to area middle and senior high school applicants include: Drema McNeal, Park Middle, “Kindles in the Classroom”; Carolyn Buzbee, Independence Middle, “As the Mandala Turns” Creating Kaleidoscopes and “Empty Bowls”; Kristy Roberson, Beckley-Stratton Middle, “Whatever It Takes”;

Connie Dillon and Carol Roach, Liberty High, “Digital Diaries”; Carol Roach, Liberty High, “Lights! Camera! Action!”; Melinda Wills, Woodrow Wilson High, “Starring…..”; Jeremy Rodriguez, Liberty High, “West African Balafon: Cultural and Musical Significance and Preservation”;

Josh Grant, Woodrow Wilson High, “Saved by the Kettleball”; Anne Meadows, Academy of Careers and Technology, “ACTion News”; and Dawn McGinnis, Woodrow Wilson High, “After School String Program.”

“Educators are faced with a number of challenges and if BAF can help implement their creative ideas by providing dollars for equipment, then we have had a part in helping shape the future of our community and its citizens,” commented committee co-chair Deborah Gray.

 

Text Only
Life!