Southeast Kentucky Chamber Awards 6 Schools with Excellence in Education Funding for 2023-2024 Grant Cycle

PIKEVILLE, KY (February 5, 2024) – The Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce awarded $8,000 to 6 schools in the region through its Excellence in Education Grant Program—three Floyd County schools, two in Pike County, and one in Johnson County.
 
The Southeast Kentucky Chamber’s Excellence in Education Grant Program awards educators with funding for innovative projects that enrich the education of students across the region. The Chamber seeks to provide supplemental funding to programs that aid students academically, whether that’s in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, or art, music, and drama departments. The Excellence in Education Grant Program has awarded more than $80,000 to schools across the Southeast Kentucky region since 2008.
 
“We’re excited to be able to help fund projects that enable students to have more hands-on learning experiences,” said Jordan Gibson, President & CEO of the Southeast Kentucky Chamber. “Educators in our region go above and beyond for their students, and we’re happy to support them as they make a difference in the lives of their students.”
 
Floyd County Area Technology Center (Floyd), Floyd County School of Innovation (Floyd), Johnson County Middle School (Johnson), Shelby Valley High School (Pike), Valley Elementary School (Pike), and W.R. Castle Elementary School (Johnson) all received grant funding through the program this year.
 
Floyd County A.T.C. Instructor Shawn Woods received $1,500 which will be used to give students hands-on experience with rebuilding a nonworking engine and to gain a better understanding of its internal workings.
 
Floyd County School of Innovation Science Teacher Kari Cornett was awarded $1,500 to help fund the purchase of drones, which will be beneficial to multiple pathways, from flying the drones to coding them to using it as a real-world tool in scenarios like search and rescue and land surveying.
 
“We strive to provide cross-curricular opportunities for students so that they are well rounded and productive members of society,” said Kari Cornett. “The acquisition of the DJI drones will allow our multiple pathways to collaborate and create new real-world experiences for students, such as through search and rescue missions, land surveying, and live streaming events. Such experiences provide students with opportunities to connect what they are learning in their various classes to their career choice or field of study. We are excited about the cross curricular experiences our students will have through the inclusion of the DJI drones into our course curricula.”
 
Johnson County Middle School Engineering Teacher Holly Rogers received $1,500 to fund laboratory kits, experimental materials, and interactive learning tools for 7^th and 8^th grade students in her engineering class and will allow students to receive hands-on experiences in STEM disciplines.
 
“I am deeply honored to receive the Excellence in Education Grant. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue inspiring and shaping the next generation of engineers in Eastern Kentucky,” said Holly Rogers. “Education is not just about transferring knowledge; it's about sparking curiosity, encouraging critical thinking, and instilling a lifelong love for learning. This grant will enable me to enhance the educational experience for my students and further fuel their passion for engineering.”
 
Shelby Valley High School Teacher Zelda Hall was awarded $1,500 for calculus and physics equipment to give students a hands-on experience with mathematical concepts and how they apply in real-world scenarios. They will use these supplies to learn about displacement, velocity, and acceleration.
 
Valley Elementary School received $1,000 for supplies to conduct chemistry experiments. Students will test different substances to determine if their properties on a molecular level have changed (resulting in a chemical change) or if their appearance only has changed (a physical change).
 
W.R. Castle Elementary School UNITE Teacher Tyler Trimble was awarded $1,000 to enhance the production of the school’s weekly news broadcast. The funds will be used to purchase cameras, microphones, and a drone to expand news segments, crew members, and footage of the news.
 
The Chamber’s Excellence in Education Grant Program funds approximately $8,000 in educational projects annually in schools in the eight counties the Chamber serves: Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, and Pike.
 
For more information about the Chamber’s Excellence in Education Grant program, visit the Chamber online at www.sekchamber.com or call 606.432.5504.
 
The Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is located at 178 College Street in Pikeville and serves more than 500 businesses in eight Eastern Kentucky Counties: Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, and Pike. The Chamber’s mission is to serve the businesses of Southeastern Kentucky through a commitment to networking, advocacy, education, and collaboration as we partner together to enhance the business climate in our region.

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