2007-05-08 14:13:31 -
FORT WORTH, Texas, May 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The nonprofit First Choice Power Fund awarded $45,000 to provide Texas teachers additional tools for creative teaching.
"First Choice Power Classroom Innovation Grants allow our teachers to provide captivating and challenging educational experiences for Texas students," said Diane Harrison Ogawa, executive director of the First Choice Power Fund, a division of the PNM Resources Foundation.
Applications for the annual grants were due in March, and more than 50 teachers across the state applied. The awards are announced in spring, giving teachers the summer to
prepare their programs.
Texas teachers in communities served by First Choice Power applied. Programs receiving funds for the coming school year are:
-- $3,000 to Debbie Grmela of Gatesville Intermediate School for "Ready
for Robotics"
Students will get hands-on experience using LEGO Mindstorms Education
Base Sets. The microcomputer will allow students to create robots and
collect data while they explore various scientific and mathematical
concepts.
-- $1,848 to Lucy Lara of Crockett Middle School for "Play It Again
SAM"
Students will apply knowledge of their favorite board or card game
to create a classroom math game. This will inspire thinking,
creativity and self-esteem as their games will be used in the classroom
in a fun learning environment.
-- $1,300 to Sally DeWeese of Klein High School for "Give a Little, Get a
Lot"
Students who tutor and mentor will develop leadership and
organizational skills along with the benefit of giving back to the
community. Each student will help plan, organize and conduct community
service projects.
-- $2,916 to Maggie Lalich of Challenger Elementary for "The Giving
Garden"
Students will learn to explore, witness and experience growing
of native and non-native plants from seeds and natural insect life.
Since children learn by seeing, hearing and doing, their grasp of these
concepts will be enhanced.
-- $3,000 to Michelle Doss of Angleton Middle School for "Solar Matters"
Students will learn the power of solar energy, including how
important it is in students' lives and the future impact of energy
development.
For a complete listing of First Choice Power Classroom Innovation Grant recipients, visit http://firstchoicepower.com/innovation/.
The First Choice Power Fund is a division of the PNM Resources Foundation, a nonprofit established in 1983 to improve the quality of life in communities where the company's customers and employees live and work. The PNM Resources Foundation is a separate nonprofit tax-exempt corporation and was originally endowed by a gift from earnings by shareholders of PNM Resources. No customer funds are part of the endowment. For more information, visit http://www.firstchoicepower.com/fund/.
Source: First Choice Power Fund
