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Mardi Lowry McDonough '87 Student Opportunity Fund & Grant Program

STATE COLLEGE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

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Funding Amount

Up to $30,000 per grant cycle

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Mardi Lowry McDonough '87 Student Opportunity Fund & Grant Program

Overview: A grant program designed to fund teacher innovation and support projects that directly benefit current and future SCASD students. The program awards grants to educators at all grade levels who develop projects that enhance learning opportunities.

Geographic Scope: State College Area School District (PA)

Focus Areas:

  • Science and technology

  • Student mental health

  • Music and arts

  • Extracurricular activities (e.g., Unified Bocce program)

  • Classroom equipment

  • Student experiences

  • "Beyond the budget" expenses

    • Eligibility:

  • Teachers and educators at all grade levels within SCASD

    • Funding History:

  • Most recent cycle (October 2022): 48 grant requests received; nearly $30,000 awarded to more than 30 projects

  • Record-breaking round in terms of number of requests and funding amounts

  • Grant cycles show increasing requests each year

    • Recent Project Examples:

  • Supplies for middle school Open Mic Night

  • Speakers and speaker stand for middle school Rock Band Club live performances

  • Environmental pollinator garden project at high school

  • Testing calculators for high school students

  • Used sousaphone and stand for elementary music

  • Multi-lingual classroom materials for ESL students

  • Mindfulness materials for kindergarteners

  • Robotic building kits for middle schoolers

  • Family Book Club materials for elementary students

    • Background: The fund was established to honor longtime SCASD educator Mardi Lowry McDonough, State High '87, who passed away in June 2020. Proceeds from the annual Maroon & Gray Dinner are directed to this fund.

    Contact: Paul Olivett, Executive Director, SCASD Education Foundation, (814) 883-8067, paul@scasdfoundation.org

    How to Apply

    How to Apply

    No specific application details provided in website content. Contact the Education Foundation for application procedures and deadlines.

    Contact Information:

  • Executive Director: Paul Olivett

  • Phone: (814) 883-8067

  • Email: paul@scasdfoundation.org

  • Address: 240 Villa Crest Drive, State College, PA 16801

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    Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    teachersk-12-schoolseducationartsstem-education

    Categories

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