NEW! AEF Citigroup Success Fund-Science Classroom Grants
     Citigroup Success Fund, made possible through generous support from the Citigroup Foundation, has awarded the Abilene Education Foundation with a grant of $25,000.00 to be used for innovative science classroom grants. AISD teachers will be invited to apply for these grants of up to $2,000 each during November and December 2007. Applications will be available online at www.AISD.org and the AEF website. The AEF hopes that this new program will enable AISD teachers to expand science curriculum in creative ways in addition to supporting curriculum goals and improving the district's science test scores. With this new funding opportunity, the AEF hopes to help make an impact by providing funds that will enable science teachers to improve instruction and implement innovative applications in the classroom. The grant award winners will be recognized and the grant monies awarded at a reception Feb. 7, 2008. The monies may be used during the calendar school year of 2008.
Online link to the application Paper copies of the application are also available at each campus and at the AEF office in One AISD Center. Applications by email in MS Word format can be sent by contacting AEF Executive Director Jean McMillon at jean.mcmillon@abileneisd.org

NEW! Abilene Education Foundation STAR Grants!
     The AEF is offering a total of $30,000 to AISD teachers for classroom and instructional grants for the 2008-2009 school year. Grants may be used for classroom projects, school equipment, supplies, instructional materials and creative/innovative enrichment activities. Grant requests for funding up to $1000 per project will be considered. Applications due August 22, 2008. Awards will be given in September 2008. Online link to the application.

Best Buy
      The Best Buy's Children's Foundation is committed to supporting programs that connect kids, technology and education. Best Buy's te@ch program was created to recognize and reward schools that are integrating interactive technology into the curriculum.

Butler-Cooley Excellence in Teaching Award
     The Turnaround Management Association, a professional community dedicated to corporate renewal and turnaround management, has established the Butler-Cooley Excellence in Teaching Awards to honor teachers who have changed the outcome of children's lives. The program is funded by a five-year grant from the John William Butler Foundation.
     A $5,000 cash stipend, plus transportation to and lodging for the TMA Annual Convention in New York City in October, will be awarded to not less than three and not more than five primary or secondary teachers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and skill in shaping and influencing children's lives through education. The teachers must be currently licensed and active in teaching in an accredited public or private educational institution and have at least five years' teaching experience.

Christopher Columbus Awards
     The Christopher Columbus Awards is a national, community-based science and technology program for middle school students. The program challenges the students to work in teams of three to four, with an adult coach, to identify a problem in their community and apply the scientific method to create an innovative solution to that problem.
     Eight finalist teams and their coaches will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World® to attend National Championship Week and compete for valuable U.S. Savings Bonds and the $25,000 Columbus Foundation Community Grant, plus a $200 development grant to further refine their idea.

CiviConnections- National Council for the Social Studies
     National Council for the Social Studies has received a teacher training grant from the federal Corporation for National and Community Service to fund CiviConnections: Constructing the past, creating the future. NCSS proposal was one of just 8 chosen for funding in a new 2003 grant competition on "Linking History, Civics, and Service." CiviConnections will involve more than 297 teachers and 7,425 3rd-12th grade students nationwide over the next three years in linking local history inquiry with community service-learning activities. A team of three teachers can apply for a $7,500 grant to cover their costs for attending a summer workshop, implementing the program during the fall of 2004, and attending the 2004 NCSS Annual Conference in Baltimore. Dr. Rahima Wade, Professor at The University of Iowa, is the project director. Dr. Wade and Dr. Linda Levstik, professor at The University of Kentucky, will co-facilitate the summer workshops.

DisneyHand Teacher Awards
     DisneyHand, the worldwide philanthropic initiative of the Walt Disney Company, seeks to honor some of the most creative, inspiring teachers across the United States with the annual DisneyHand teacher awards. The focus of the awards program is to recognize the teaching profession, showcase creativity in the classroom, and honor those who can assist in developing creative teaching strategies in their school districts. Only full-time teachers are eligible for the awards program. Teachers can be nominated by students, former students, students' parents, principals, or members of the community. Nominees who then complete the awards application are eligible for selection as a DisneyHand teacher awards honoree. The national selection committee chooses three applicants in each of ten categories to be DisneyHand teacher awards honorees. Honorees and their respective schools will receive grants from the Walt Disney Company. Honorees will also participate in professional development and recognition events.

Dominion Energy Company Invites Applications for Educational Partnership Grants
Energy company Dominion has announced that the application period is now open for Educational Partnership grants for the 2006-07 school year. Through this program, Dominion accepts grant applications for up to $5,000 to encourage the development of new programs to strengthen math and science education in kindergarten through grade 12. The Dominion Foundation will award approximately $220,000 in educational partnership grants throughout a six-state area (North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia). Accredited public and private elementary and secondary schools, public school divisions, institutions of higher education, state agencies, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in the eligible counties of each state are invited to apply. Successful grant proposals should represent innovative and promising ideas, teach math and/or science skills, reach a significant number of students, and demonstrate broad-based community support. Proposals must align with one of four targeted areas: Mini-grants — projects to enhance the teaching of math and science costing up to $1,000; Parental Involvement — projects to increase the role of parents in math and/or science achievement; Closing the Gap — projects to help schools with standardized test scores in math and science averaging below the 50th percentile; and Environmental Education — projects to develop math and/or science skills through the study of the environment.

EDS Technology Grant Program Invites Applications From Schools
A philanthropic program of global technology services company EDS, the EDS Technology Grant Program awards grants of $1,500 to teachers and library media specialists through a competitive application process. The program challenges teachers and librarians to explore technology-related products and services and creatively apply these tools and resources in the classroom to enrich student learning. Each year, EDS offices worldwide sponsor and award the grants to teachers and librarians through their schools. Schools applying for a grant must be located within fifty miles of a sponsoring EDS account. Grants must be used to pay for technology products, training, and services not provided to the teacher by a school or school district. Examples include, but are not limited to, computer software and hardware, digital cameras, PC Cams, CD-ROM libraries, scanners and video boards, modems, Internet access, wiring, and connection time to networks and databases. Applicants must be a current full-time teacher or librarian of children ages 6 through 18; teach at a public, private, or charter school; teach at a school located within fifty miles of an EDS office sponsoring a grant; and apply individually or in teams of two. Teaching and instruction must be provided in a traditional classroom setting, with a teacher and students face to face. Applications must be obtained from a sponsoring EDS team. The deadline, in most areas, for the 2006 program is January 31, 2006. Applicants must verify the deadline date with the local sponsor upon obtaining an application form. See the EDS Web site for program information, the Technology Grant Program Sponsors list, and contact information.

ExploraVision
     The National Science Teachers Association and Toshiba seek applications for their annual ExplorVision awards, which encourage teams of K-12 students to propose creative solutions to community problems using future technology.

Fulbright Memorial Fund
      This program, funded by the Japanese government, invites American teachers to spend three weeks in Japan. The Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program (FMF) is designed to provide American primary and secondary school teachers and administrators with opportunities for fully-funded short-term study programs in Japan. Its aim is to increase understanding of Japan among a crucial group of Americans who will be helping to shape and educate the next generation of leaders in the United States. The program will provide significant professional development opportunities for individuals who traditionally may not have had such opportunities, while increasing the level of understanding between Japan and the United States of America. Last year AISD teacher Nancy Haddox participated by going to Japan. She highly recommends the program.

"Hope for Education" Samsung Electronics
     Samsung Electronics America launched the "Hope for Education" essay contest in 2004. Hope for Education is a distinctive educational philanthropy program designed to better educate U.S. elementary, middle, and high school students through the delivery of new digital technologies and software. Teachers, administrators, parents, and students may enter the contest by writing a 100-word essay on why their school and students are in need of digital technology in the classroom. Samsung has teamed up with Microsoft on this initiative to offer awards of digital technology to twenty-one winning schools. The program will award one Grand Prize of $200,000 in Samsung merchandise and Microsoft software, and twenty First Prizes of $60,000 each in Samsung merchandise and Microsoft software. All contest winners will be selected by a panel of qualified judges from leading academic and editorial communities. The essay contest is open only to legal residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia. Participants should nominate a public or state-accredited private school in their community. Home schools, colleges, universities, and vocational/trade schools are not eligible for nomination.

Horace Mann Scholarships
     The Horace Mann Scholarship Program for Educators, a philanthrophic program of the Horace Mann Educators Corporation, provides funds to help public and private school teachers continue their education. In 2004, the program will offer thirty-six scholarships totaling $30,000. The awards include one four-year $5,000 award; fifteen two-year $1,000 awards; and twenty one-time $500 awards. Scholarships may be used to cover tuition, fees, and other educational expenses.

ING Unsung Heroes Awards Program
     The ING Unsung Heroes awards program is designed to recognize classroom heroes who "take teaching to new heights and make learning fun." Through the program, financial services company ING annually presents a total of $240,000 in awards to one hundred K-12 educators across the United States to help further their projects within their school or school system. The program is managed by Scholarship America.  All K-12 education professionals are eligible to apply. Specifically, applicants must be employed by an accred- ited K-12 public or private school; full-time educators, teachers, principals, or paraprofessionals; or classified staff with effective projects that improve student learning.   All awards must be used to further projects within the school or school system. Each of the hundred finalists will receive an award of $2,000. At least one award will be granted in each of the fifty United States, provided one or more qualified applications are received from each state. Of the hundred finalists, three will be selected for additional financial awards: $25,000 (first place), $10,000 (second place), and $5,000 (third place).

International Reading Association Invites Entries for Presidential Award for Reading and Technology
The International Reading Association is accepting applications for the Presidential Award for Reading and Technology, an annual award designed to honor educators in grades K-12 or equivalent who are making an outstanding and innovative contribution to the use of technology in reading education. This award is sponsored by PLATO Learning and presented at the International Reading Association Annual Convention. The grand prize winner, selected as the best application from across all the eligible regions, will receive a $1,000 prize plus expenses ($2,000 maximum) to attend the IRA Annual Convention. Nine additional winners — seven U.S. regional winners (Southeast, Plains, Rocky Mountain, Southwest, West, East, and Great Lakes), one Canadian winner, and one winner from outside North America — will each receive a $500 prize. All entrants must be educators who work directly with students ages 5-18 for all or part of the working day. Educators who work in public, parochial, or private elementary, middle, or high schools in the United States are eligible for the U.S. regional awards. Educators who work with students ages 5-18 in a public or private school in Canada are eligible for the Canadian award. Educators in all other countries, including U.S. Territories and APO schools, are eligible for the international award. All entries are eligible for the grand prize. Entries incorporating any brand of computers, operating systems, software applications, and other technologies such as TV or video are acceptable. Program information and applications are available at the International Reading Association Web site. r

Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership
The Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership has announced funding opportunities for small-scale education initiatives in the Southern United States. CGP’s Education Program seeks to increase awareness and understanding of Japan in these states through support of teacher training and related programs addressing the needs of the K-12 student and teacher community. Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded for projects conducted in the current Japanese fiscal year (through March 31, 2006). Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia are eligible to apply. Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis and applicants will be notified of the decision approximately one month after formal submission of the proposal. Please note that there is a possibility the program will be extended into the next fiscal year. For more information on this opportunity, visit the CGP Web site.

Jordan Fundamentals Grant Program
      The Jordan Fundamentals Grant Program was established in 1999 to recognize outstanding teaching and instructional creativity in public secondary schools that serve economically disadvantaged students. In 2004, the program has been expanded to include grades one through six. The program is presented by the Jordan Brand, a division of Nike, Inc., and administered by Scholarship America.

Louis R. Cappelli Foundation Offers Support for Programs Serving At-Risk Youth
The Louis R. Cappelli Foundation is a funding source designed to assist at-risk youth to reach their full potential. Three specific targeted areas where the foundation focuses its attention are education, health and fitness, and arts education. Qualifying organizations are those who hold IRS 501(c)(3) not-for-profit status. Applicant organizations must serve at-risk youth. All fully certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are invited to submit an application for funding that meet the following criteria: Education — The foundation will look for education programs that encourage collaboration among agencies, educational facilities, childcare centers, school districts, and parents to address innovative education programs that encourage and foster the learning process for at-risk children. Health and Fitness — The foundation will support programs that provide innovative and worthwhile health programs or organized sports which encourage wellness and fitness, enabling at-risk children to reach their fullest potential in life. Arts Education — The foundation will support arts education programs that provide access to the visual and performing arts for at-risk children through a wide array of arts and related organizations. The foundation generally considers grants of $5,000 to organizations meeting the criteria. However, unusually significant and effective programs able to establish a need for greater support may be considered for a grant of up to $25,000. Grant application guidelines and an application form are available at the Cappelli Foundation Web site.

Lowe's, International Paper, and National Geographic Outdoor Classroom Grant
Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation, International Paper and the International Paper Foundation, and National Geographic Explorer classroom magazine have announced an Outdoor Classroom Grant Program to fund outdoor learning environments for K-12 public schools around the United States. Outdoor classrooms provide students with the hands-on opportunity to learn about natural resources through science education. Ranging from flower, vegetable, and butterfly gardens to small ponds, nature trails, or bird sanctuaries, outdoor classrooms can vary in complexity based on a school's available resources. More elaborate outdoor learning environments may include a laboratory for testing water and soil quality, a greenhouse, wetlands, an arboretum, or a shelter. This school year, the Outdoor Classroom Grant Program will award grants up to $2,000 to at least one hundred schools. In some cases, grants for up to $20,000 may be awarded to schools or school districts with major outdoor classroom projects. The grants can be used to build a new outdoor classroom or to enhance a current outdoor classroom at the school. The program only considers outdoor classroom proposals. All K-12 public schools in the United States (excluding Puerto Rico) are welcome to apply. Grants will be reviewed three times a year. For complete program information and application procedures, visit the Lowe's Web site.

MetLife Foundation Bridge Builders' Grant
     With funding from MetLife Foundation, NASSP administers the MetLife Foundation Bridge Builders Grant Program for public middle level and high schools serving large numbers of low-income students and/or underrepresented minorities (40% or more of the student body). Twenty-five grant awardees receive $5,000 to implement a special initiative aimed at building better relationships among adults and students. From this pool of 25, NASSP will select 5 exemplary awardees to participate in a panel presentation at the 2008 NASSP Convention in San Antonio, TX.

National Gardening Association Invites Applications for School Gardens Program
As a way to encourage the growth of health-focused youth gardens, the National Gardening Association recognizes outstanding programs via the Healthy Sprouts Awards, sponsored by Gardener's Supply Company. These awards support school garden programs that use the garden to teach about nutrition and the issue of hunger in the United States. To be eligible for the 2006 Healthy Sprouts Awards, a school or organization must plan to garden in 2007 with at least fifteen children between the ages of 3 and 18. The selection of winners is based on the demonstrated relationship between the garden program and nutrition and hunger issues in the United States. The program will present awards to twenty-five schools or organizations. Each will receive a $200 gift certificate to Gardener's Supply Company; a literature and curriculum package from NGA; and NGA Supporter benefits for one year. Complete program information and application forms are available at the NGA Web site.

National Education Association Offers Fine Arts Grants to Secondary Level Fine Arts Teachers
      Administered on behalf of the National Education Association, the NEA Fine Arts Grants program is designed to enable fine arts teachers to create and implement fine arts programs that promote learning among students at risk of school failure. Elementary and secondary teachers are eligible in alternate years of this program. This year, the program is accepting applications at the secondary level (grades 6-12). Programs must address the arts (e.g., painting, sculpture, photography, music, theater, dance, design, media, or folk arts). The grant amount is $2,000. At least ten grants will be awarded. Grant funds may be used for resource materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, software, and/or professional fees. Local NEA affiliates will be the applicant organization of record on behalf of teachers at the secondary level and implement the work. The teacher must be a member of the National Education Association and work in a U.S. public secondary school serving economically disadvantaged students. For complete program information, visit the Web site of the NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education.

National Engineers Week Future City Competition
     A team competition for 7th & 8th grade students to foster interest in engineering, math and science through hands-on real world application by planning and building a physical model of a future city.

National Geographic Society Education Foundation Offers Teacher Grants
     Teacher grants are given directly to educators to facilitate their work in promoting and increasing geographic literacy in the classroom, school, district, and community. Teacher Grant applications are accepted from any current teacher or administrator in an accredited K-12 school within the United States and Canada. Projects that have outreach to urban areas are particularly encouraged.

National Schools of Character Awards Program
     Every year, the Character Education Partnership names ten public and private K-12 schools and districts as National Schools of Character in recognition of their outstanding work in character education. With support from the John Templeton Foundation, the 2007 award recipients will each receive a $20,000 grant: $10,000 to enhance their program and $10,000 to provide outreach to other educators. Once selected as a National School or District of Character, winners will develop an approved plan for conducting outreach activities that includes holding a district or regional workshop and mentoring another school or district. Through a grant from the Templeton Foundation, several states are conducting State Schools of Character competitions as a preliminary step to advancing to the National Schools of Character awards. The purpose of this tiered approach is to allow more schools and districts to be recognized and to provide exemplary sites within states to serve as models for other educators. The SSOC and NSOC applications are the same. Visit the NSOC page on the CEP Web site to learn if your state is participating in the SSOC program in 2007. State winners will be named and celebrated in each state, and the best applicant(s) from each SSOC competition will become finalists in the NSOC awards program. To be eligible, a school must have been engaged in character education for a minimum of three full years, starting no later than December 2003 for the 2007 awards. Districts need to have been engaged in character education for a minimum of four full years, starting no later than December 2002. Schools must have a minimum of 175 students to apply. Smaller administrative units that maintain a separate identity within a large district may apply in the district category (e.g., a school pyramid or cluster).

National Science Teachers Association
     The National Science Teachers Association has announced a call for entries for the 2008-09 NSTA New Science Teacher Academy. The academy is now embarking on its second year of supporting science teachers new to the profession.
      Co-founded by the Amgen Foundation, the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy is a fellowship program created to help promote quality science teaching, enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence, and improve teacher content knowledge. NSTA Fellows selected for the program will receive a comprehensive membership package, online mentoring with trained mentors who teach in the same discipline, and the opportunity to participate in a variety of Web-based professional development activities, including Web seminars. In addition, each NSTA Fellow will receive financial support to attend and participate in NSTA's 2009 National Conference on Science Education in New Orleans. This year, a hundred and fifty new science teachers supported by the Amgen Foundation will be named Amgen-NSTA Fellows.
      Science teachers located throughout the United States who will be entering their second or third year of teaching and whose schedule is a minimum of 51 percent middle or high school science can apply to the become an NSTA Fellow.
      For more information about the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy and application guidelines, visit the NSTA Web site.

National Science Teachers Awards

NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence
      Horace Mann is proud to partner with the National Education Association and The NEA Foundation to recognize, reward and promote excellence in teaching. All current members of local NEA affiliates are eligible.

Nickelodeon Announces Giveaway Program to Encourage Healthy Play
Children's television network Nickelodeon has announced the launch of the 2005-2006 "Let's Just Play" Giveaway Program, where the network will distribute more than $1 million from September 2005 to June 2006. The "Let's Just Play" Giveaway offers kids around the United States the opportunity to take action and enter for a chance to win $5,000 to improve their school or community program's fitness resources. The initiative is part of the network's three-year pro-social "Let's Just Play" campaign, which encourages healthy and active lifestyles for kids and families. For ten months, Nickelodeon will award a minimum of 20 winners per month with $5,000 each to help facilitate play in their community. To enter, kids ( 6-15 years of age), partnering with teachers and other community-based leaders, must tell Nickelodeon what they need for their public or private school (grades K-9) or community-based after-school organization to help them play better and why, and give three reasons why play is important. Once the entry form is completed and mailed to Nickelodeon, the winners will be randomly selected and announced via Nickelodeon Online at the top of each month, beginning in September. As a partner of the "Let's Just Play" Giveaway, the Kellogg Company will match a Nickelodeon grant of $100,000 for September, enabling the network to award funding to 40 winners that month. The partnership is part of the network's efforts to bring corporate partners on-board for the "Let's Just Play" Giveaway in order to increase the total funds distributed to $2 million. For more information on the "Let's Just Play" program and details on submitting program entries, visit the Nickelodeon Web site.

Organization of American Historians
     The Organization of American Historians sponsors an annual award to recognize the contributions made by precollegiate teachers to improve history education. The award, to be given for activities which enhance the intellectual development of other history teachers and/or students, memorializes the career of Mary K. Bonsteel Tachau, University of Louisville, for her pathbreaking efforts to build bridges between university and precollegiate history teachers. Applications for the 2005 award must be received by December 1, 2004. The award will be presented at the 2005 annual meeting of the OAH in San Francisco, California, March 31-April 3.

Project Lead the Way
    Competitions (individual and classroom led) for youth interested in science, technology or engineering. Local contact: Mr. Riley, Cooper High School

Robert H. Michel Civic Education Grants
     Sponsored by the Dirksen Congressional Center, the Robert H. Michel Civic Education Grants program is designed to help teachers improve the quality of civics instruction, with a focus on the role of Congress in the federal government. The Dirksen Center intends to award $35,000 through this program in 2004. Areas of interest include designing lesson plans, creating student activities, and applying instructional technology in the classroom, with priority given to the following disciplines: history, government, social studies, and political science.Teachers (6th through 12th grades), community and junior college faculty, and college and university faculty are eligible to apply. Institutions and organizations also are eligible under certain conditions. For example, inter-institutional consortia and other groups of individuals may apply, but grant funds may not be used to defray indirect costs or overhead expenses. Grant funds are intended solely to produce "deliverables" of use to classroom teachers.

SHOPA Kids In Need Teacher Grants
      Kids In Need Teacher Grants provide K-12 educators with funding to provide innovative learning opportunities for their students. The SHOPA Kids In Need Foundation helps to engage students in the learning process by supporting our most creative and important educational resource -our nation's teachers. For the 2005-2006 academic year, the SHOPA Kids In Need Foundation awarded more than $103,000 to 240 teachers from a field of more than 1,800 grant applications. Teacher Grant awards range from $100 to $500 each and are used to finance creative classroom projects. Typically, 200-300 grants are awarded each year.

Teaching American History Grant Program
     The Teaching American History Grant program is a discretionary grant program funded under Title II-C, Subpart 4 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The goal of the program is to support programs that raise student achievement by improving teachers' knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of American history.

Thomson Gale TEAMS Award
     Teachers And Media Specialists Influencing Student Achievement The Thomson Gale TEAMS Award recognizes and encourages the critical collaboration between the teacher and media specialist to promote learning and increase student achievement. Three winners will receive: $2,500 (U.S.) cash award; Thomson Gale products (approximate value $500 U.S.); a one-year subscription to Library Media Connection; and Educator's Professional Bookshelf (approximate value $500 U.S.) from Linworth Publishing. In addition, the winners will be featured in an article in Library Media Connection in the 2006/07 school year.

Toyota International Teacher Program to Send Educators to Galapagos Islands
      Administered by the Institute of International Education, the Toyota International Teacher Program offers study abroad opportunities for U.S. teachers.
      Now in its third year, the Toyota International Teacher Program to the Galapagos Islands will travel with thirty secondary school educators in late November 2008 to the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Full-time teachers and teacher librarians in grades 6-12 from all fifty states and the District of Columbia are encouraged to apply for this fully funded international professional development opportunity.
      The 2008 program to the Galapagos Islands will take place November 22 - December 6, 2008. Direct costs of participation (transportation, lodging, meals and all program activities) will be paid by Toyota. While in the Galapagos, program participants will have the unique opportunity to work in groups with Galapagueño teachers on the design of interdisciplinary environmental lessons. These lessons will be shared with the wider education community. Visit the IIE Web site for complete program information and application procedures.

USA Today All-USA Teacher Team
     The All-USA Teacher Team is open to active, full-time, certified teachers and instructional teams teaching kindergarten to 12th grade at a public or private school in the USA or its territories, or Department of Defense schools overseas. Teachers must be nominated by someone willing to put in writing why the nominee is outstanding.

Wal-Mart/Sam's Club Foundation
     Wal-Mart Stores and Sam's Club invite nominations for the ninth annual Teacher of the Year program. The winning teachers will receive $1,000 each from the Wal-Mart/Sam's Club Foundation to benefit their schools. Winning teachers also have the opportunity to apply for state and national Teacher of the Year honors. In 2004, state winners will receive an additional $10,000 grant and will automatically be entered in the national competition. The national winner will receive an additional $25,000 grant, for a total of $36,000 to his or her school.

Youth Garden Grant Program
The National Gardening Association and Home Depot have announced the 24th annual Youth Garden Grant Program. Over the last twenty-four years, NGA's Youth Garden Grants program has helped more than 1.3 million youngsters reap rewards and vital life lessons from working in gardens and habitats. Schools, youth groups, community centers, camps, clubs, treatment facilities, and intergenerational groups throughout the United States are eligible to apply. Applicants must plan to garden in 2007 with at least fifteen children between the ages of three and 18 years. Previous Youth Garden Grant winners who wish to reapply must wait one year and have significantly expanded their garden programs. Applicants should demonstrate a child-centered plan that emphasizes children/youth learning and working in an outdoor garden. Areas considered for support include educational, environmental, or social programming; leadership; community support; sustainability; innovation, and need. Each winning program will receive educational materials from NGA and a gift card (amount to be determined) from Home Depot. Program information and application are available at the NGA Kidsgardening Web site.