The Highline Schools Foundation (HSF) announced this week that it has awarded $96,250.06 in Excel and Impact Grants to 29 schools and programs across Highline Public Schools for the 2024-2025 cycle.
The Foundation received 85 applications this year, and their Grants Committee was able to fully or partially fund a total of 51 grants.
The 51 grants – 42 Excel and 9 Impact – will fund initiatives ranging from interactive technology and STEM projects to fine arts, mental health, special education, and cultural heritage programs.
Additionally, $3,749.94 has been set aside to address the specific needs of LGBTQ+ students.
These grants aim to enhance learning opportunities and foster a more inclusive and innovative educational environment across the district.
“I’m so impressed with the thoughtful projects bringing new learning and opportunities to so many students, with focused attention on inclusion and access,” HSF Executive Director Fred Swanson said. “I’m so proud of the work we’re doing and grateful for the investments we’re able to make!”
EXCEL GRANT AWARDS
42 awards for a total of $47,248.48
- Beverly Park Elementary
Quynh Chau Phan “Sensory Room” $1,237.58 - Big Picture School
Adrea Kunkle “Big Picture Tool Library” $1,500
Steve Uydess “Big Picture’s 301 “Excel”-lent College Adventure” $1,500 - Bow Lake Elementary
Melissa Cook “Belonging through Books” 1,489.81
Ani Mesropian “Art Literacy and Reference Library” $1,500 - Cascade Middle School
Alexa Wayman “Emotional Empowerment Project” $1,000
Lauren Tran “Self-Regulation Zones for Classrooms” $500
Nancy Trang “Good Grief” $1,499.12 - Community Based Services
Luke McPhee “Harmony in Learning: Providing Musical Instruments for Students with Significant Disabilities” $960 - Des Moines Elementary
Brenda Martin “Engaging Decodable Readers” $1,325.80 - Glacier Middle School
Karen Gunn “7th Grade Field Trip” $1,500
Stephanie Kuborssy “Hard Cello Cases for Protection and Longevity” $912
Edward Tompson “Wolf Tank” $1,500 - Gregory Heights Elementary
Hailey Wharton “Project Make Music” $626.32
Shawn Will “Igniting Young Minds: Fostering Critical Thinking in Third Graders” $400.58 - Hazel Valley Elementary
Courtney Clark “Just Right Readers for Early Literacy Development” $1,438.80 - Health Services
Naisha Erickson “Stop the Bleed Training” $1,400 - Highline High School
Jacqueline Wong “Lion Dance Instruments” $644.70 - Highline Virtual Academy
Cyri Edlao “Engaged Reading” $1,330.31 - Innovation Heights Academy
Tamara Nedell “Innovation Heights Academy welcomes Writers in the Schools” $1,100
Shauna Pierson “Art with Heart- Ink about it!” $1,020 - Madrona Elementary School
Michelle Brees “Aesop’s Fables in Action” $924
Michael Heckinger “Turn the Page” $1,239
Rosa Sanchez “Field Trip to PacSci!” $653.50 - Maritime High School
Rosalind Echols “Building ROVs” $1,495.24
Wauren Ochs and Braelen Lewis “Rainbow Friends Debate Club” $1,500 - Marvista Elementary
Julie Rice “Silence is Golden” $500 - Marci Anderson Youngstrom
“Flexible seating options for primary learners” $1,488.56 - McMicken Heights Elementary
Martina Clymer “Art with Heart” $550 - Mount Rainier High School
William Freeman “Senior Gown Loaning Program,” $1,466.52
Hirut Mamo “Black Graduation Ceremony” $1,493.70 - Mount View Elementary
Erin Enquist “Listening Stations to Give Inclusive Reading Access to ALL” $1,246
Alex Marial “Real World Enrichment Field Trips for 2nd Grade Student” $888.62
Jose Rivera “Enhancing Language Acquisition through Play” $800
Trina Samson “We love to read en Espanol” $1,028.39
Aubrey Scheffel “Developmental Preschool Playground Upgrades” $1,500 - North Hill Elementary
Leah Stephens “Feeling the Music” $330.59 - Puget Sound Skills Center
Joanna Rodriguez: “Dive into Innovation: Team Octobots Take on the ROV Challenge!” $1,500 - Realistic Transition Program
Theresa Ognoskie’s “Let’s Connect the Dots” $767.75 - Seahurst Elementary
Martina Clymer “Art with Heart” $550 - Shorewood Elementary
Kyle Hutchison: “Inclusion Resources- Helping All Students Belong” $1,441.59 - Sylvester Middle School
Brenda Phelps “Building Strong Readers: Expanding Book Resources for the Read Right Program” $1,500
IMPACT GRANT AWARDS (over $1500)
9 awards for a total of $49,001,58
- Big Picture School
Chelsea Ilarde: “Big Picture Design Lab” $2,000 - Bow Lake Elementary
Eleanor Cho “BIPOC Authors Visit and Writer’s Workshop” $4,032 - CTE and Digital Transformation
Elizabeth Palow “eSports” $9,969.58 - Highline Virtual Academy
Calvin Allen “Trip to Junior Achievement Finance Park” $2,000 - Hilltop Elementary
Tierza Clerc: “I really want to focus and do my work but my body needs to move!” $5,000 - Inclusive Education
Courtney Wiley “Unified Track Meet” $3,000 - Mount Rainier High School
Ashley La “Drum Beats for School Spirit” $10,000 - Sylvester Middle School Bev Pecroaro: “The Library is for Everyone!” $3,000
- Waskowitz Outdoor Education Center
Meredith Von Trapp “Living History at Waskowitz for all HPS 4th Graders” $10,000
Learn more about the Highline Schools Foundation, and consider making a year-end donation here:
