Webster schools named finalist for math/science grant

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

The Monsanto Fund announced last week that Webster County Schools had been named a finalists for this year’s America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education grants. The grant, in the amount of $25,000, gives eligible farmers the opportunity to nominate a public school district in their community to compete for one of two merit based grants, either $10,000 or $25,000.

The nomination period for the program lasts from January through March. Once nominated districts must submit a completed grant application by the end of April.

Grant applications are then reviewed by educators from ineligible counties, with the strongest applications being selected as finalist. Those finalist are then reviewed by the America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education Advisory Council for final review. Composed of farmer-leaders from across the U.S. with a vested interest in both agriculture and education, the Advisory Council will select the winning school districts.

Grant recipients will be announced in early August.

Kentucky schools competing for this grant are:

•Glasgow Independent

•Logan County

•McLean County

•Nelson County

•Trigg County

•Webster County

Last year, Grow Rural Education invested $80,000 in public school districts across Kentucky to improve math and science curriculum, and a total of $2.3 million to 181 grant recipients across the country. Since 2012, Kentucky school districts have received $135,000 through this program.

Grow Rural Education grants have allowed rural schools to invest in the enhancement of student learning in math and science. Past grant recipients used funding for projects such as technology and scientific lab equipment upgrades, greenhouses and outdoor classroom learning environments, teacher and curriculum development and other math and science related initiatives.

The Monsanto Fund is the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, a agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. It is a leading producer of genetically engineered seed and of the herbicide glyphosate, which it sold under the Roundup brand.