The Foundation received 58 applications requesting nearly three times the funding awarded last year, and the Excel & Impact Grant Committee was able to fully or partially fund 43 grants. In total, grants totaling $75,494.99 have been awarded to 24 schools or programs across Highline Public Schools, including funding for interactive technology, literary arts, STEM initiatives, special education, mental health, books and eBooks, and adventures outside of the classroom.
We offered Excel grant awards of up to $1,500 and Impact grant awards of up to $10,000 for the 2023-2024 grant cycle. We awarded 36 Excel Grants and seven Impact Grants. Continue reading below for details on all grants awarded in this cycle.
Excel Grant awards
36 awards for a total of $45,523.86
Beverly Park Elementary
Samantha Minatti, Seattle Weather Forecast Field Trip – $528
Big Picture
Angie Erdman, Climbing to the Top (field trip to Camp Long) – $1,500
Barbara Abbott, More Than Just a Game (Dungeons & Dragons Club) – $1,491.60
Chelsea Ilarde, 101 Project Fund – $1,500
Andrea Kunkle, Soap Making Class – $1,243.77
Leib Sutcher, Big Picture College Trip – $1,500
Cascade Middle School
Ai Vo, Vietnamese Cooking with Math – $852.90
Alexa Wayman, Art with Heart Therapeutic Group – $1,000
Ingebjorg McGrady, Self-Regulation Tools for Counseling Spaces – $1,375
Cedarhurst Elementary
Meghan Stewart, Disney Musicals in Schools: The Lion King – $1,251.14
Des Moines Elementary
Chris Schultz, West African Drumming – $1,413.80
Evergreen High School
Jill Wilson-Zahn, Teen Grief Support Group for EHS – $1,500
Zach Hermson, Accelerometer for EHS Weight Training – $1,329
Glacier Middle School
Karen Gunn, 7th Grade WA State History Field Trip – $1,479.50
Highline High School
Jacquelaine Wong, Lion Dance Club – $1,500
Hilltop Elementary
Tierza Clerc, I Want to Join Circle Time, I Just Can’t Sit Still (OT chairs) – $1,500
Madrona Elementary
Michele Brees, Reading is Intriguing in All Languages (books) – $1,498.15
Leonor Lopez Munoz, Living History Field Trip to Camp Waskowitz – $1,058.90
Jennifer Reese, Living History Field Trip to Camp Waskowitz – $1,440
Amelia Swinton, Bilingual 3rd Graders Go to the Theater! (field trip) – $1,118.10
Maritime High School
Danielle Jones, Social Justice Explorers on Olympic Campus (podcasting equipment) – $343.89
Marvista Elementary
Cooper Johnson, Science that will make your hair stand up! – $418
Kristianna Person, Playground Art – $1,000
McMicken Heights Elementary
Vivienne Alcantara, Beyond Lions, Tigers, and Bears: Oh My! (nonfiction books about animals) – $1,500
Mount View Elementary
Erin Enquist, Multilingual Multicultural Books to Create Belonging (equity library) – $1,144
Thera Cooper, Equitable Access for Elementary Instrumental Music Education (musical instruments) – $1,435
North Hill Elementary
Leah Stephens, Xylophones to Increase Student Independence – $1,262.36
Raisbeck Aviation High School
Eli Schwimmer, Tailwinds – Elevating Aviation Photography
(photography equipment) – $1,500
Realistic Transition Program
Theresa Ognoskie, RTP Adventure (field trip) – $780.75
Virtual Program at Seahurst Elementary
Franli Newman, BreakoutEDU (virtual learning subscription) – $1,070
Sylvester Middle School
Brenda Phelps, The Literacy Initiative: Opening Doors for Every Reader (books) – $1,500
Sheri Brown, Math Counts! (math team and competition) – $1,500
Stephanie Detweiler, Wildcat Writers at Cavalcade of Authors West (field trip) – $1,490
Teen Parents Program/Innovation Heights
Jennifer Montufar, Baby Pantry & Multilingual Beginnings – $1,500
Tyee High School
Karly Feria, Tyee Community Day – $1,500
White Center Heights Elementary
Shoshanna Cohen, Creating a Safe Space in an Indigenous Garden (garden project) – $1,500
Impact Grant awards
Seven awards for a total of $29,971.13
Beverly Park Elementary
Kristi Suznevich, WeVideo for Project Based Learning (Multimedia tool) – $1,650
Bow Lake Elementary
Kiyomi Mozley, Sensory Room for Bow Lake Elementary – $1,879.55
Cedarhurst Elementary
Bianca Longbucco, Hoping to Be Heard (Sound system/equipment) – $2,545.08
Evergreen High School
Jeremiah Lubin, EHS Maker Space (3D printers and other digital creation tools) – $6,994.23
Innovation Heights Academy
Anne Marie Littleton, Promoting a Culture of Belonging with the Alternatives to Violence Project (non-violence and communication project) – $3,000
North Hill Elementary
Jennifer Ferry, And the Winning Book Is… (eBooks) – $2,226
Shorewood Elementary
The Challenger Learning Center Spacecraft Simulation Program (field trip) – $2,500
Special Education
Aubrey Scheffel, Adapted Bikes – $9,176.26