by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Apr 22, 2025 | Building a Stronger Fayette
All photos courtesy of Laurel Highlands High School
Students at Laurel Highlands High School have participated in seed planting, plant maintenance, aquaponics system monitoring, and data collection as part of an aquaponics plant nursery initiative called Sow, Grow, and Share. The initiative is organized by Andrea Sholtis, a Chemistry and Biology teacher at Laurel Highlands High School.
Sholtis said, “The Sow, Grow and Share initiative has significantly enhanced our aquaponics lab, transforming it into a dynamic hydroponics lab that now offers students the chance to cultivate plants for personal use. Across our five classes, an array of plants are flourishing, spanning from catnip for beloved pets to marigolds destined for home gardens.”
Aquaponics is a food production system that combines aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (growing plants in water). The waste produced by the fish provides nutrients for the plants, and the plants help to clean the water for the fish, creating a closed-loop system.
This initiative at Laurel Highlands High School was awarded a grant from the Community Foundation of Fayette County in 2023, through the Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund. The grant enabled the purchase of a 4-tier nursery and microgreen system, seedling trays, an LED 3-tier garden, plant pots, potting mix, and more.
“Embracing students of diverse abilities, from special needs to advanced placement, the initiative has fostered a shared joy in the art of planting and nurturing seeds. Particularly, students with special needs have thrived, establishing a daily routine centered around tending to their herb gardens, diligently watering and providing nutrients to their plants,” said Sholtis.
Students are experiencing hands-on learning through the Sow, Grow, and Share initiative and enhancing their understanding of sustainable agriculture, environmental science, and the aquaponics system’s role in food production.
“The foundation is happy to support engaging learning initiatives like this, through the generosity of our donors,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Mar 7, 2025 | Building a Stronger Fayette
About 1,950 Fayette County students saw Galileo Galilei come to life on stage during an “edutainment” musical performance from the Pittsburgh CLO. “The Next Galileo” musical is part of the Pittsburgh CLO’s Gallery of Heroes series, which highlights the lives and accomplishments of significant historical figures through mini-musicals at local schools. A donor advised fund at the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) brought the program to the Uniontown Area High School auditorium and covered transportation costs for the students.
Photo credit: Archie Carpenter and Pittsburgh CLO
“We see students’ faces light up as they enter the auditorium and look around, clap at the end of songs, and raise their hands for a chance to ask the performers a question during the Q&A. When asked if this was anyone’s first time seeing a musical, a number of kids raised their hand,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Photo credit: Archie Carpenter and Pittsburgh CLO
The performance followed a young student, Gabriella, as she journeys back in time to meet Galileo Galilei. Together, they experience the joy of scientific discovery and the importance of curiosity, from questioning Aristotle’s belief that the Earth was at the center of the universe to realizing that Galileo’s telescope could be used to see what was above Earth in the sky.
Students attended from Albert Gallatin, Brownsville, Laurel Highlands, Uniontown, and St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School. Back in the classroom, teachers can use a guide provided by the Pittsburgh CLO to help students think about the themes and learnings from the performance.
This is the tenth year that Gallery of Heroes has come to the stage for Fayette County students, thanks to a generous donor at the community foundation who values bringing the arts to young people.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Nov 25, 2024 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) has awarded a total of $39,932 in grants to local school districts this fall. The foundation is able to support education in a variety of ways, including grants from donor advised funds and grants through CFFC’s participation in the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) program for educational improvement.
Three donor advised funds, held at CFFC, awarded a total of $25,934 for classroom projects and materials at Laurel Highlands School District and Uniontown Area School District. The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund, the Idea Fund, and the Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund accepted grant applications from August to October, and twelve (12) requests were funded.
Randy Miller, LHSD Director of Curriculum and Instruction; Renee Couser, CFFC Executive Director; Dr. Jesse Wallace, LHSD Superintendent
The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund is supporting LEGO® education kits, whiteboard tables, lab tables, enrichment and remediation materials, a classroom library, library Zeitgeist collection, flexible seating and literacy material, and a student publishing center.
The Idea Fund is supporting business classes with an Apple TV and Mac Mini Pro for stock market learning and a pinewood derby project for STEM learning.
The Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund is supporting tools for science class and models and equipment for anatomy and physiology class.
“Donor advised funds have flexibility to award grants for different organizations and causes throughout the year, and we value these donors’ trust in CFFC to help with their charitable giving,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Dr. Kelly Swartz, UASD Assistant to the Superintendent; Renee Couser, CFFC Executive Director; Sally Matthews, UASD Business Manager
Through the DCED, CFFC is approved as an Educational Improvement Organization and provides funding to local school districts for innovative educational programs. Thanks to businesses that donate to this program, a total of $13,998 was granted this fall to six (6) Fayette County school districts.
With the funds, Penn State Extension 4-H will provide programming for a STEM and Computer Science Initiative at Albert Gallatin Area School District, Brownsville Area School District, Frazier School District, Uniontown Area School District, and Laurel Highlands School District. At Connellsville Area School District, funds will provide programming for a STEM Science program at the Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center.
To learn more about how you can support local education through charitable giving, call the foundation office at 724-437-8600.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Sep 12, 2024 | Building a Stronger Fayette
“Over the years, I’ve learned that students learn best when they are having fun and completely involved and engaged in their learning,” said Michelle Mowry, Kindergarten Teacher. Mowry teaches at Bullskin Elementary, part of Connellsville Area School District. In 2023, the school was awarded a grant from the Idea Fund, held at the Community Foundation of Fayette County, to enhance Mowry’s classroom.
The grant provided funds for felt story boards, puppets, and building blocks for hands-on learning experiences. Mowry quoted students saying “This is the best ever!” and “It’s real life Minecraft!” (in reference to the materials to build structures).
Donor advised funds, like the Idea Fund, provide flexibility and ongoing involvement for the donor to support charitable causes. As part of the foundation’s fall grant cycle, the Idea Fund accepts applications from all school districts in Fayette County to help teachers achieve a level of creativity in the classroom that allows students of all learning styles to thrive. Particular attention is paid to applicants who demonstrate that the funds will be used to address the needs of students in the classroom who may not be top grade earners, can show the sustainability of the program, and are willing to go beyond traditional teaching styles to reach students.
If you would like to learn more about how you can support causes close to your heart, contact the Community Foundation of Fayette County at 724-437-8600.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 23, 2024 | CFFC News
Last year, nearly $20,000 was awarded in the Community Foundation of Fayette County’s (CFFC) fall grant cycle to support an aeroponics indoor garden, plant nursery, coding robot, items for a sensory room, a drone coding project, microscopes, hands-on learning, and more. The grants were made from three Donor Advised Funds held at CFFC – Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund, Idea Fund, and Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund. These funds are currently accepting grant requests to support local schools again for the 2024-2025 school year.
Submitted by Luke Rice, Laurel Highlands School District – Aeroponic Tower Garden. “Students gathered data by measuring growth, different ratios of nutrients, light schedules, and by testing pH.”
Submitted by Michelle Mowry, Connellsville Area School District – Hands-on Learning. “Over the years, I’ve learned that students learn best when they are having fun and completely involved and engaged in their learning.”
“Donor Advised Funds give donors flexibility with how grants are used to support charitable causes, and the donors have ongoing involvement,” explained Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director. “The fund holders partner with us to support projects that match their passions,” said Couser.
The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund is accepting grant requests for reusable items that will enhance the classroom(s). Any teacher, school counselor, or administrator in the Laurel Highlands School District or Uniontown Area School District is encouraged to apply. Requests from $750 up to $10,000 will be considered.
The Idea Fund was created by a donor who is interested in helping teachers achieve a level of creativity in the classroom that allows students of all learning styles to thrive. All school districts in Fayette County are eligible to apply for an Idea Fund grant in the amount of $2,500.
The Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund is accepting grant requests to enhance STEM teaching and learning at the Uniontown Area School District’s middle schools or high school. An award in the amount of $500 is intended to support teacher or student activities or the purchase of classroom materials.
Applications are due by October 4 through CFFC’s online grant system, which can be found on the “Grant Seekers” page at www.cffayettepa.org. Further details are listed online for each fund’s criteria.