Barbara A. Carmen Memorial Endowment Fund Grant Awards Announced

Unity-Foundation-of-La-Porte-CountySeventeen teachers from eight Michigan City public and parochial schools are receiving grants from the Barbara A. Carmen Memorial Endowment Fund through Unity Foundation of La Porte County.

The fund was established in 1992 in memory of the late Barbara A. Carmen, an MCAS elementary school teacher. Mrs. Carmen’s family conceived this fund through Unity Foundation to promote excellence in the classroom. Annual grants are awarded to fund special classroom projects and programs which will enrich curriculum or enhance a teacher’s ability to meet student needs. Over $41,500 has been awarded thus far to finance teacher-directed projects, classroom equipment, and continuing education for teachers.

This year 30 applications were submitted, with nine approved, totaling $3,038.01. Grantees and their projects include:

Michigan City Area Schools:

Barker Middle School: Mohammad Mroueh, Principal
Amy Hamann, “Forensic Science Unit”, $491.70

Joy Elementary School: Jason Hopper, Principal
Kimberly Stepp, Nadia Dabagia, Ann Schreeg, “ABC Read With Me”, $440.76
Carol Sloane, Virginia Przybylinski, Mary Beres, “Making Connections to Our World through Great Literature”, $368.28

Knapp Elementary School: Cathy Bildhauser, Principal
Holly Zborowski, “Recognition of Healthy Choices”, $84.95

Pine Magnet School for the Performing and Visual Arts: Dale Ferraro, Principal
Jane Malott, “Sing Me a Story – Literacy & Fine Arts Integration”, $472.34

Springfield Elementary School: Lisa Emshwiller, Principal
Janelle Spolyar, Michelle Jones, “Pairing Non-Fiction by Gail Gibbons with Popular Children’s Literature”, $333.76

Private/Parochial Schools:

Notre Dame Catholic School: Ben Potts, Principal
Barbara Brandon, “Rainbow Scarves & Ribbon Wands”, $208.89

St. Paul Lutheran School: Myra Remmel, Principal
Becky Lane, Debbie Boone, Michele Sickles, Abby Schmidt, “Growing a Book from S.C.R.A.T.C.H.”, $397.18

St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic School: Jill Jelinek Ogiego, Principal
Kristi Harmon, “Print Making and its History”, $240.15