Vigo County Education Foundation awards $86,206 in mini-grants

By Sue Loughlin, Tribune-Star, Aug 22, 2024

In this science experiment at Lost Creek Elementary, students were instructed to build the tallest tower with their materials, but they had to balance a marshmallow on the top without falling. The experiments are made possible through a mini-grant from the Vigo County Education Foundation.

​Pam Runyan’s students at Sarah Scott Middle School will learn about growing their own food, while third-graders at Lost Creek Elementary will do weekly science experiments.
Cheryl Thornton’s second-graders at Dixie Bee Elementary will “adopt” a stuffed animal reading buddy with the promise to read to it nightly at home.
All three programs are benefiting from mini-grants distributed Wednesday by the Vigo County Education Foundation.
VCEF awarded 139 mini-grants totaling more than $86,206 for classroom enrichment opportunities benefiting all Vigo County School Corp. schools.
“All of these mini-grants are made for $750 or less, and it is amazing to see what great teachers are able to accomplish with that amount of money,” said Jane Nichols, Vigo County Education Foundation executive director.
Runyan’s grant, called “The Greenhouse Effect,” expands on what she’s done in past years.
“We will continue planting in soil and hydroponics in the classroom, but we will also take the planting outside. There will be a greenhouse outside my classroom” that her students hope to use.
“The greenhouse needs some love put into it before we use it. That’s where my grant money comes in to help,” she said.
Lost Creek third-grade teachers received a grant to continue their weekly science experiments, which might involve dissecting owl pellets, seeing what happens when Mentos mix with soda pop or building towers made from cups, tape, string and marshmallows.
With the towers experiment, they learn about balance, weight and gravity.
The science experiments aim to increase students’ knowledge of science through fun and interactive learning.

​The third-grade teachers are Kristen Browne, Angie Miller, Angie Oxford and Michaela Gaur. The mini-grant helps purchase materials, Browne said.
“Science Buddies is by far their favorite activity they do each week. They look forward to learning about science in a fun, hands-on way,” Browne said.
Thornton’s project at Dixie Bee Elementary is called “Bee” a Reader: Reading Buddy Adoption Event.
It encourages regular, independent reading practice and fosters a love for reading by allowing students to “adopt” a stuffed animal reading buddy that they read to each night.
Second-graders “are not just emergent readers. They are ready to take it and run with it and enjoy books and literature,” Thornton said.
Students actually fill out an adoption application and write a persuasive paragraph about why they could provide a good home for their buddies.
“They seem to love it. I’ve had parents take picture of their little ones at home at night reading to their buddies,” and the parents send the photos to Thornton, she said.
With another mini-grant, Sarah Scott teacher Martin Nagy has a project called “Wood Ducks Everywhere.” He will use the money to buy materials to make wood duck nest boxes. They will work with Ducks Unlimited to place the boxes on bodies of water in the Wabash Valley.
The Vigo County Education Foundation is a private 501 © (3) Foundation, established in 1984, with the mission of granting opportunities for enhanced learning.
Since 1984, the foundation has granted more than $3 million to VCSC schools and programs.
“This is a testament to the generosity of businesses and individuals in our community, and the belief in providing the best educational opportunities for our students. The VCEF is grateful and proud of this support,” Nichols stated.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at 812-231-4235 or at [email protected]. Follow Sue on X at @TribStarSue.