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 | 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 | Dec 8, 2023 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County awarded nearly $20,000 in fall grants to local school districts for classroom projects and materials. The grants were provided by donor advised funds held at foundation, through which generous individuals recommend distributions to organizations.
Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund
Uniontown Area School District: $7,679.99
Laurel Highlands School District: $6,634.81
Idea Fund
Albert Gallatin Area School District: $2,263.00
Connellsville Area School District: $2,269.00
Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund
Uniontown Area School District: $750.00
Stay tuned for details about the projects and impact of the classroom materials!
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Apr 12, 2022 | Building a Stronger Fayette, Grants
Renee Couser, CFFC Executive Director; Randy Miller, LHSD Director of Curriculum & Instruction; Dr. Jesse Wallace III, LHSD Superintendent
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) awarded $12,855 to Laurel Highlands School District (LHSD) from the Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund in 2021. Teachers submitted requests to purchase reusable items to enhance their classrooms, and five projects were selected for grant awards.
April marks World Autism Month, and two of the awarded projects provided items to support students with autism throughout the whole year, and for years to come. With a grant for their autistic support/life skills sensory room, Marshall Elementary purchased a bubble fountain, light projections, chairs and cushions that enable movement for students, and more. “A sensory room helps students to develop their visual, auditory, and tactile processing as well as fine and gross motor skills,” explained Patricia Spurlin, an autistic support teacher at Marshall Elementary.
A student in motion in the sensory room (submitted by Patricia Spurlin)
“In the past six years, I’ve raised over $8,000 for our sensory room,” said Spurlin. She has run t-shirt drives and “penny wars”, a competition between homerooms to collect pennies in a jar for prizes – but these fundraisers were paused during the pandemic the past two years. An additional sensory room was added at Marshall Elementary, and the reusable items purchased through this grant will also benefit students who use the space for physical therapy and occupational therapy sessions. “Sensory rooms help to teach students with autism and other behavioral deficits to challenge their bodies in a way that helps them achieve success in the classroom. These students all deserve a chance to be independent, self-functioning members of our school population, and improving our sensory room is a great tool to help us help them succeed in that goal!” said Spurlin.
Hutchinson Elementary received a grant to purchase items like sensory water beads, activity books, an alphabet puzzle, and a squeeze and scoop ice cream set – all activities to help students with fine motor skills and sensory input. “In the past couple of years, the [Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund] grants have changed the lives of so many of my students and enhanced and improved my classroom beyond belief,” said Tia Wadworth, an autistic support teacher at Hutchinson Elementary.
LHMS reading teachers Kara Hixson and Jill John at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Inchy the Bookworm
CFFC’s Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund also enabled the purchase of a creative reading-related item at Laurel Highlands Middle School – Inchy the Bookworm. This book vending machine is part of the school’s PRIDE program (Positive, Respectful, Integrity, Discipline, Excellence). Students earn golden coins for their positive behaviors and can use their coins to select books from the vending machine. “We look forward to an increase in reading and positive behaviors in the near future. Inchy the Bookworm Vending Machine will be an asset to Laurel Highlands Middle School for years to come,” said Jill John, a reading teacher at LHMS.
Students using the flight simulator (submitted by MSgt. Daniel Cervone)
Turning to STEM education, Laurel Highlands Senior High School received a grant for a flight simulator for their Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program (AF JROTC). The simulator allows them to “fly” indoors when they are unable to use their drone outside, and it creates the effects of weather during takeoff, in flight, and landings. The flight simulator also shows different emergency situations and how the pilot must react quickly and calmly. “Since placing the simulator into our classroom, the students have been able to fly multiple aircrafts and see how they are all the same, but different at the same time…. Overall the students have definitely become more interested in our flight simulator/drone/rocket program,” said Master Sergeant Daniel Cervone.
Joy Frederick, a 4th grade math, science, and social studies teacher at Marshall Elementary, used grant funds for a variety of educational games. “I love how games excite a student to learn, and how they think they are playing but they are learning,” said Frederick. Purchased items include math flash cards, multiplication dominoes, states geography board game, a time-telling clock, and more to support the Common Core Standards she teaches.
CFFC is proud to support a variety of educational topics, and the Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund is a great example building a stronger Fayette through charitable giving. “We created this annual grant program to help bring innovative and interesting new teaching tools into the classrooms at Laurel Highlands and Uniontown schools,” said Ron Gabriel, creator of the Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund. Teachers, school counselors, and administrators at Laurel Highlands School District and Uniontown Area School District are encouraged to apply for this funding opportunity during CFFC’s annual fall grant cycle.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jan 12, 2022 | CFFC News, Grants, News Releases
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) awarded over $20,000 in fall 2021 grants to local nonprofits and schools. CFFC supports a variety of funding areas, based on the interests of donors and the criteria they outline when creating a charitable fund.
The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund awarded a total of $15,871 to Laurel Highlands School District and Uniontown Area School District for reusable items that will enhance the classrooms. Requested items that received funding include a flight simulator, book vending machine, items for autistic support/life skills sensory room, games, and technology enhancements for algebra classes.
The Burchinal Family Endowment Fund awarded a $1,500 grant to Don’t Stop Dreamin’ to support activities for their Fayette County skilled nursing residents.
The Idea Fund awarded a total of $2,200 to Geibel Catholic Junior Senior High School to enhance learning through a community history center and suturing supplies for anatomy classes.
The Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund awarded a $500 grant to Uniontown Area School District to support family and consumer science sewing projects.
To learn more about the impact of CFFC grant awards, visit the Building a Stronger Fayette page at www.cffayettepa.org. CFFC will soon be announcing grant applications for the spring 2022 cycle, which includes grant opportunities for arts, education, health and human services, community gardens, and more.