Help the Community With Student Program Grants

By Anonymous

COMMUNITY LEARNING THROUGH AMERICA’S SCHOOLS, or CLASS Grants, are the NEA Student Program’s way of building community support for public education and addressing critical educational and social problems that face our communities. Across the country, NEA Student members are making a difference in their own communities, and to support them, NEA provides grants of up to $1,000 to student chapters that want to launch CLASS projects. CLASS Grants have funded local efforts to:

* have a book drive

* conduct a fund-raiser for school supplies and materials

* offer after-school tutoring

* work with a center for at-risk children

* participate in adult-learning programs

* support Big Brothers-Big

Sisters of America Inc. Tell us how your chapter would like to make a difference in the community, and you could be the recipient of our next CLASS grant! For more information and an application, go to www.nea.org/student-program/programs/class.html or e-mail Kimberly Anderson at kimberlyanderson@nea.org.

NATIONAL SCHOOLS OF CHARACTER

Every year, the Character Education Partnership recognizes 10 K- 12 public and private schools and districts as National Schools of Character with awards up to $2,000 each. The National Schools of Character Awards program seeks to: 1) identify exemplary schools and districts to serve as models for others; and 2) help schools and districts improve their efforts in effective character education.

To be eligible, a school must have been engaged in character education for a minimum of three full years, starting no later than December 2002 for the 2006 awards. Districts need to have been engaged in character education for a minimum of four full years, starting no later than December 2001. The application deadline is December 5, 2000. For more info and an application, see www.character.org/eventsawards/nsoc/files/2006_nsoc_awards.pdf.

AEROSPACE EDUCATOR GRANTS

The Aerospace Education Foundation’s (AEF) Educator Grants provide up to $250 per academic year in support to elementary and secondary classrooms for aerospace education programs, opportunities, and activities when no support is currently available. The program encourages development of innovative aerospace activities within the prescribed curriculum. The program also encourages establishing an active relationship between the school and the local Air Force Association organization.

Applicants may receive up to $250 if they apply by November 15, 2005. See www.aef.org/aid/Brochure.pdf, call 800-291-8480, or e- mail AEFstaff@aef.org for information and an application.

TEACHERS STUDY IN JAPAN

The Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher (JFMF) Program provides U.S. primary and secondary school teachers and administrators with the opportunity to participate in three-week study visits to Japan and to return home with a follow-up plan designed to introduce Japanese culture to American students. Each year, up to 600 teachers and administrators, including participants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, are selected to participate in the JFMF Program.

The JFMF Program features an orientation to Japan followed by visits to primary and secondary schools, teacher training colleges, cultural sites, and industrial facilities. Meetings with Japanese teachers and students and a homestay with a Japanese family are also key components of the program. Participants return home to share their knowledge with students, colleagues, and the local community.

For an application, see www.iie.org/jfmf. The deadline for applications for the 2006 program is December 10, 2005. Send an e- mail to jfmi@iie.org or call 888-527-2636 with questions or to recfuest printed materials.

AWARDS FOR STUDENT DOERS

Do Something is a national not-for-profit organization that inspires young people to believe that change is possible, and trains, funds, and mobilizes them to be leaders for change. Each year, the Do Something BRICK Awards honor six outstanding leaders age 18 and under and three outstanding leaders ages 19-25 who use their talents to take action that measurably strengthens their local communities in the areas of community building, health, or the environment. Each winner in the “18 and under” category receives a $5,000 scholarship and a $5,000 grant; winners in the “19-25″ category each receive a $10,000 grant. All winners receive pro bono services, media recognition, and the chance to attend the annual BRICK Awards Gala.

Applicants must apply online and any accompanying materials must be received at Do Something’s office on or before November 1, 2005. For more information and to apply, see wvw.dosomething.org/awards/ brick/index.php.

ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

The 2006 SeaWorld/Busch Gardens/Fujifilm Environmental Excellence Awards recognize the outstanding efforts of students and teachers across the country who are working at the grassroots level to protect and preserve the environment. This year, eight projects will be selected and each winning group will receive:

* $10,000 to benefit the award-winning project

* an all-expenses-paid trip for three students and one adult leader to SeaWorld Orlando for an awards event

* a Fujifilm digital camera

* 100 T-shirts to share with school and community partners

* an award trophy and certificates for every student/group leader participant.

From the eight projects, one outstanding environmental educator/ leader will be recognized and receive:

* $5,000

* an all-expenses-paid trip for themselves and one guest to SeaWorld Orlando for an awards event

* a Fujifilm digital camera

* an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2006 National Science Teachers Association national conference

* an award trophy and certificate.

Project applicants should be able to demonstrate significant accomplishments that have occurred prior to the November 30, 2005, application deadline. For more, see www.seaworld.org/ conservationmatters/eea/about.htm.

DISNEY TEACHER AWARDS

Disney is accepting nominations for America’s most creative teachers until October 15, 2005. The program honors teachers whose approaches exemplify creativity in teaching and who inspire a joy of learning in students. PreK-12 teachers are eligible. Nominations can be made online at www.DisneyHand.com or by phoning ton-free, 1-877- 282-8322.

Selected honorees will be celebrated at an awards gala and will share teaching strategies with fellow award-winning teachers. Four honorees will be selected as Outstanding Teachers and one will be named the 2006 Disney Teacher of the Year.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TEACHERS TO BECOME LIBRARIANS

Thanks to grants from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, 37 universities, libraries, and library organizations across the country are offering graduate scholarships to teachers who want to become librarians. The funds will provide scholarships of 50,75, or 90 percent tuition reductions for

teachers to become certified school library media specialists. The scholarships are designed to address the critical shortages of school library professionals by providing financial support for individuals of diverse racial or cultural backgrounds and those whose proximity to library science universities limits their educational opportunities.

Deadlines for applying are November 15, 2005 (for Spring 2006) and March 15, 2006 (for Summer 2006). For more about the LAPIS Scholarship application process, go to http://libweb.mansfield.edu/ lapis/. Address Questions to: Ms. Debra E. Kachel, LAPIS Scholarship Director, at 717-393-6205 or dkachel@mansfield.edu.

GRANTS FOR YOUTH LEADERS FOR LITERACY

NEA will award up to 20 grants of $500 each to student-led initiatives through Youth Leaders for Literacy, a joint program of NEA and Youth Service America (YSA). The Youth Leaders for Literacy initiative helps youth direct their enthusiasm and creativity into reading-related service projects.

Grant applications should propose youth leadership in developing and implementing a project that begins on NEA’s Read Across America Day in March and culminates on YSA’s National Youth Service Day in April. Applications must also include a scheduled activity (read- aloud session, trip to the library, book-making, etc.) each week of the six-week project period as part of the proposed service project.

Grant applications must be postmarked by November 21, 2005. Winners will be announced in December. For more information and an application form, go to www.nea.org/readacross/volunteer/ youthleaders.html.

Copyright National Education Association Oct 2005