News Release                                                                   

For Immediate Release

March 15, 2022

Foundation for Education Awards $42,355 for Local School Projects

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The Grand Forks Foundation for Education, Inc. is awarding $42,355 through 14 grants this spring to help fund a variety of enrichment projects in Grand Forks Public Schools.

The Mini-Grants have been funded through the Foundation for Education since 1992. Awards are usually for classroom-level or grade-level projects. All areas of curriculum and all grade levels are eligible for Mini-Grants.

Elementary School Mini-Grants

• $210 - Nadine Raymond, Lake Agassiz Elementary School, for her “Yoga in the Classroom” project, to purchase a set of yoga mats for her classroom.
• $573 - Tracy Whalen, Lake Agassiz Elementary School, for her “Exploring Space” project, to purchase various non-fiction books exploring space for the Lake Agassiz Library.
• $950 - Megan Schmitz, Discovery Elementary School, for her “More for Core - Building Communication in our Youngest Learners” project, to purchase various vocabulary materials for early childhood special education students.

Middle School Mini-Grants

• $75 - Josey Chow, Valley Middle School, for her “Exploring Ag Engineering STEM” field trip. Students will visit the lab of UND professor Feng Xiao to test fertilizer and for an introduction to agricultural engineering.
• $710 - Deb Boucher, Elroy Schroeder Middle School, for her “Immersed in Tech in a Hands-on Classroom” project, to purchase a classroom iPad and accessories to be used as interactive tools in her math classroom.

High School Mini-Grants

• $494 - Andrea Maus, Grand Forks Central High School, for her “Novels in Verse for Reluctant Readers” grant. These funds will be used to purchase a variety of novels in verse to entice reluctant readers to engage in the Library Media Center.
• $848 - Mary Drumm, Grand Forks Central High School, for her “Rome & Juliet Graphic Novel” grant to purchase a classroom set of graphic novels of the classic William Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.”
• $1,345 - Kati Larson, Grand Forks Central High School, for her “Wheel-Thrown Pottery” grant to purchase an additional pottery wheel to be used by several art classes.
• $2,040 - Leslie Martin, Red River High School, for her “UAS/Drone Equipment” grant to purchase five drone sets with iPods for aviation students to explore drone flying and racing, an emerging sport in high school and at the college level.

Impact Grants

• $2,287 - Jeff Bakke, Red River High School, for his “Disc Golf Course” grant. These funds will be used to purchase a portable disc golf set to be used by Red River physical education classes. Disc golf is a fast-growing sport with lifelong health benefits.
• $4,533 - Michelle Spicer, Elroy Schroeder Middle School, for her “Sound Systems for Allied Classrooms” project. These funds will be used to purchase three Redcat Sound Systems. These will have an immediate impact on the student learning experience in these music, innovations, and world language classrooms.
• $5,000 - Kevin Ohnstad, Phoenix Elementary School, for his “Phoenix Elementary Playground” project. These funds will be used to support the Phoenix Elementary Playground construction.
• $5,000 - Travis Thorvilson, Winship Elementary School, for his “Winship Elementary Playground” project. These funds will be used to support the Winship Elementary Playground construction.
• $18,290 - Sarah Harlow, Grand Forks Central High School, for her “GFC Drumline Revival” project. These funds will be used to replace worn and broken instruments that are over 20 years old. These include carriers, snare drums, tenor drums, bass drums, and cymbals.

For further information on the projects that were funded this fall, please contact Foundation Executive Director Emilia Hodgson at 701.787.4866 or ehodgson290@mygfschools.org.

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