For the first time since the Fayette County Education Foundation began awarding mini-grants to Fayette’s public school teachers, the organization held a special recognition reception in honor of the 2006 minigrant award recipients and scholarship winners.

The event was held at Glendalough Manor in Tyrone April 25 where nearly $25,000 in grant money was distributed to fund 65 grant proposals. The grants give teachers the monetary assistance they need to bring innovative and creative programs into their classrooms to help enhance the curriculum that is already in place. These programs are in addition to what is funded by the school system. Without assistance from the Fayette County Education Foundation, funding for many of these programs would not be possible.

In addition to the teachers receiving minigrant awards, the foundation also honored several scholarship recipients. For the second consecutive year, the foundation has awarded three scholarships to paraprofessionals who are working toward their education degree at an accredited college or university. This year’s recipients are Amy Kowan (Brooks Elementary), Cheryl Hall (Peeples Elementary) and Kate Sas (Robert J. Burch Elementary).

Each winner received a $500 scholarship to help offset tuition expenses. Staples of Fayetteville also honored the paraprofessionals by awarding each of them a $200 gift card to use toward purchasing school and classroom supplies.

Other scholarship recipients recognized include the winners of the Taliaferro Scholarships, given by Fayette residents John and Betsy Getreu in honor of Betsy’s mother and father. Since 2003, the Getreu’s, through the education foundation, have awarded laptop computers to four graduating high school seniors who have excelled in math or art and are continuing their education at a college or university. This year’s Taliaferro Scholarship recipients are Christine Dunphy (math), Sandy Creek High; Kento Masuyama (math), Starr’s Mill High; Andrew Dolder (art), Fayette County High and Bryce Truitt (art), Starr’s Mill High.

Westfield Insurance and Reese Insurance agencies in Riverdale sponsored a $1,500 scholarship through the foundation for a deserving graduating high school senior planning to attend Clayton State University. The scholarship was awarded to Lauren Escalante, a student at the Fayette County Evening High School.

Lauren relocated to Fayette after a hurricane damaged her family’s home in Florida last year. At her previous school, Lauren was enrolled in honors and Advanced Placement courses and had taken college credit courses over the summer. She was also on her school’s swim team.

Counting the grants and scholarships awarded this year, the Fayette County Education Foundation has funded almost $110,000 in minigrants to 261 recipients and has participated in awarding over $42,000 in scholarships since the foundation awarded its first grants in 2002.

The foundation has been able to offer this funding for teachers and students thanks to the generous support of individual and community donors. Donations to the foundation are tax deductible. Anyone interested in becoming a supporter of the Fayette County Education Foundation can contact Melinda Berry-Dreisbach at the Fayette County Board of Education, 770-460-3535.

login to post comments