The Hamburg Area Education Foundation awarded grants totaling $20,521 to students and teachers during the school directors meeting on June 5.
“The HAEF grants support the District vision and extend opportunities for students and teachers,” Superintendent Dr. Richard Mextorf said. “This year’s grants are supporting service learning for students who are interested in helping others.”
Students receiving $500 opportunity grants which were put towards an endeavor included Eileen Deisemann for summer musical theater camp at Rider University, Andrew Baum for Education First Europe tour, Benjamin Bracy for mission trip to Honduras, Kaitlyn Carl for writer’s workshop at Susquehanna University, Anastasia Smith for YMCA Camp Conrad Weiser and Genevieve Smith for Camp Conrad Weiser.
Grants for $475 were awarded to Amber Miller for Penn State-Berks Veterinary Camp, Evan Grim and Alexandria Baum each for Penn State-Berks Pre-Med Camp. Alexander Sciammarella received a grant for $310 for Penn State-Berks RoboCamp.
“The grants are supporting students who are pursuing an interest or developing a talent,” Mextorf said.
Students receiving community service grants included Alexis Deisemann for $250 towards a Girl Scout Silver Award for materials for a bench for the Strausstown Community Campus and Krista Wickel for $250 towards a Girl Scout Silver Award for materials for picnic tables construction.
Trenton and Jacob Metcalfe each received $100 grants towards the Blue Mountain Olivet community service trip.
“Grants are also supporting teachers who are exploring innovations in how to engage learners more fully by redesigning existing learning spaces,” Mextorf said.
Amy Hummel, Travis Rollman and Lindsay Tucker received a combined grant for $1,369 for a set of 24 “active chairs” to be shared among seven classrooms.
Grants for $500 each were awarded to Tabatha Vega and Jaclyn Fenstermacher for alternative seating for Emotional Support and Learning Support, respectively, at Perry Elementary.
Grants for $500 were also awarded to Sara Jackson towards choral intensive conducting institute at Rider University and Brian Calderone and Andrea Hardick combined for four years of birthday gift cards for forgotten students.
Andrea Heckman was awarded a grant for $417 for the purchase of three classroom calculator kits and Debra Hay and Rachel Gatley received a combined award of $200 for lap desks as a flexible alternative learning space.
As part of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, a grant of $10,500 was awarded to Rebecca Dommel, who teaches art at the high school.
M&T Bank ($2,500), Philips Office Solutions ($2,500), Rutter’s Farm Stores ($2,000), Fulton Bank ($2,000) and Weis Markets ($1,500) contributed to the tax credit program.
The HAEF raises the majority of its funds from its yearly Iron Chef Competition.
Applications for HAEF grants can be found on the district’s website.
“We are thankful for this partnership and for the work HAEF does on behalf of our teachers and students,” Mextorf said.
