COLUMBUS — Earlier in the school year, Columbus Independent School District High School Art Teacher Jenna Leopold applied for a classroom grant for a special project, which required more supplies than her budget allowed. After review of the project, Columbus Education Foundation, through their Classroom Grant program, awarded the grant.
What was the project? The students experienced a new type of art …the making of stained-glass pieces. Overall, the project was very successful. The students were presented with an opportunity that otherwise would not have existed. The students were able to create something they otherwise would never have had the opportunity to.
According to Leopold, “They were fully involved in the process from design to the final piece being made ready to display. The first chal lenge is encouraging the students to come up with a unique design that is important to them, but also not too overly complicated, so that they have time to complete it. They did well with this, and many were able to finish up their projects before the initially projected deadline.
Leopold complimented the students for their hard, but exciting work, ”They worked diligently to get them done and it paid off in the end. It was so rewarding to see their visions come to life in a 3D art project that they could be proud of. Their hard work and dedication to the whole process were evident in the successful completion of the final pieces. I believe some of the students were surprised by what they were able to accomplish. I was proud of every one of them.”
Through the generosity of donors, Columbus Education Foundation has grown its capabilities not only to increase classroom grants, but to increase the amount used to award scholarships for seniors continuing their education in colleges, universities, tech schools and trade schools.
CEF Director Shannan Gerik, chair of the committee that awards the classroom grants, shared, “With the help of generous support from the community, our determined board of directors has made amazing things happen since the founding of the Columbus Education Foundation.”