CALL FOR ENTRIES : BRIGHT GREEN FUTURE SCHOOL GRANTS!

The City of Austin's Office of Sustainability has released a new grant to fund eco-learning ! For more information, see below.

Bright Green Future Grants

A City of Austin program to fund sustainability projects at Austin schools

Call for Entries | Do you have an innovative idea for a school-based project that will inspire K-12 students to become lifelong environmental stewards? 

If so, we want to hear from you! The City of Austin is seeking entries for a competitive grants program that will award three $3,000 grants for the 2012-2013 school year. 
 

Deadline:  Oct. 31, 2012  Entry form available online (after Sept. 4) at www.austintexas.gov/sustainability/schoolgrants

 

Grants Program Coordinator: Mary K. Priddy, Office of Sustainability, City of Austin, mary.priddy@austintexas.gov  (512) 974-2539

What projects are eligible?  The project should advance sustainability by: reducing resource consumption; decreasing car trips/miles driven; promoting local healthy food; educating students about the issues of sustainability and climate change; and/or advancing other “green” innovations. The project should provide hands-on student involvement and learning. Winning entries will offer measurable environmental benefits, provide school-wide educational engagement, and potentially have larger community impacts.

Who can submit an entry?  Project proposals are invited from public or charter schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels located within the City of Austin. 

How will entries be judged?  Questions on the entry form correspond to evaluation criteria that will be used to select the winning projects. A panel of judges composed of staff from the City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability, as well as community members who serve on the City’s Environmental Board and other related Boards and Commissions will evaluate project entries. 

What is the project timeframe?  Grant awards will be announced Dec. 13, 2012 and funding will be available by Jan. 7, 2013.  The project funded must be completed by May 31, 2013. Preference will be given to projects that can be sustained and grown into the future, beyond the initial grant year.

Please note: Grants cannot be used to fund needs outside the specific project, such as the purchase of HVAC system or other standard school-facility upgrades, general classroom supplies, refreshments, project components that are already funded, debt reduction, etc.

Welcome Back to School !

This week's grant opportunity is in support of after school music programs !

Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation grants are designed to help Title-1 after-school programs that are in need of musical instruments. Max award is for $8,000, and the deadline for pre-qualification is September 14th, 2012.  For more information on this grant, please visit http://www.mhopus.org/About-Us

If you are looking for a grant opportunity for your school or classroom, or if you are applying for a grant, please contact the AISD Office of Innovation and Development for assistance at 414-4851.

GIVE WITH TARGET !

Great news! Target has come out with a new program to support schools ! 
Your school can qualify to win up to $10,000! 

Target is inviting the public to visit its Facebook page to vote for a school of their choice to receive a Target GiftCard.  For every 25 Facebook votes a school receives, Target will donate a $25 Target GiftCard for a maximum donation of $10,000 per school.

All you need to do is vote for a school, and share with your network via social channels (#GiveWithTarget). 

The program runs July 26 until September 8, 2012, there's not a lot of time, but a great opportunity to get a lot of cash for your school ! Click the link below and vote now !

https://apps.facebook.com/givewithtarget/

Congrats A+ Education Foundation Grant Winners!

This year, 15 AISD schools received a grant up to $1,000 from the A+ Education Foundation!

This year,  projects supported by A+ Education Foundation have ranged to include reading clubs, robotics, writing to STEM programs. WOW ! Our schools are passionate about educating students in creative ways. Congrats to all schools who received funding ! 

The A+ Education Foundation was formed by A+ Federal Credit Union to fund grants to provide programs and training to broaden the opportunities for and to enrich the lives of educators. Since the foundation’s inception, it has aided central Texas schools by providing this open grant opportunity to help educators fund and supply innovative educational ideas from STEM to Literacy. 

Recipient	School
Eileen M. Brady	Baldwin ES
Suzanna Ammenheuser	Casis ES
Jennifer D. Atkinson	Cunningham ES
Melissa L. Prepster	Gorycki MS
James M. Butler	Gullett ES
Tina L. Lewis	Lanier HS
Ronny D. Risinger	Liberal Arts & Science Academy HS
Diana L. McMillan	Mathews ES
Anna Pedroza	Ortega ES
Roger Alvarado	Ortega ES
Katherine M. King	Pearce MS
Sharon L. Stoner	Pleasant Hill ES
Florence "Gail" Laubenthal	Sanchez ES
Debra R. Hurst	Widen ES
Marcela Sanz Blanco	Widen ES

Bridgestone Firestone: Safety Scholars Video Contest

The Bridgestone Firestone 2012 Safety Scholars Video Contest will award college scholarships for the most compelling and effective videos that drive home life-saving messages on auto and tire safety, and includes a chance for young filmmakers to have their auto safety videos broadcast as a public service commercial. Maximum award: $25,000 college scholarship. Eligibility: legal permanent residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia, ages 16 through 21; entrants must possess a valid driver's license and be enrolled as full-time students in an accredited secondary, college level or trade school. 

Deadline: June 22, 2012.
http://www.teensdrivesmart.com/Video-contest/

Stories from Deep in the Heart

Texas Folklife “Stories from Deep in the Heart” Summer Institute for Teachers, Students & Administrators July 30-August 10, 2012

Application Now Available!

High school and middle school teachers are invited to participate in Texas Folklife's 2012 summer institute “Stories from Deep in the Heart,” a two week intensive fellowship in radio documentary production with professional producers, journalists and folklorists.

Download the Institute Description and Teacher Application at our website http://www.texasfolklife.org/

DUE JUNE 15!

Apply and learn radio documentary production with some NPR greats!

Student Scholarship Opportunities

Here is a list of scholarships that have deadlines approaching.  Four of the scholarships have deadlines in the next 30 days.

1) Fraser Institute Student Scholarship - $1,000 – 3 Awards (Deadline: June 30, 2012)

Showcase your ideas on public policy and the role of markets by writing an essay. Each year the Institute holds a competition for students, designed to encourage and develop student writers.

To be eligible for this scholarship you must write an essay on the 2012 topic chosen by the Fraser Institute.

Applications can be found by going to:http://www.studentscholarships.org/scholarship.php

2) 10 Words or Less Scholarship - $500 – 1 Award (Deadline: June 30, 2012)

To be considered eligible for the Scholarship a student must be:
1. Anyone who is between the ages of 14-25 who will be attending school in the Fall of 2012.
2. Answer question in 10 words or less on “Why you deserve the $500 scholarship?”

Applications can be found by going to: http://www.studentscholarships.org/scholarship.php

3) StorageMart Scholarships - $5,000 – 5 Awards (Deadline: June 30, 2012)

Five $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to students enrolled in the Fall 2012 semester at any college, university or institution of higher education. Submit an essay by the June 30th deadline.  Essay must be 500 words or more.  Scholarship Recipients will be notified no later than July 21st, 2012.

Applications can be found by going to:http://www.studentscholarships.org/scholarship/10255/storagemart_scholarships_scholarship.php

4) Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship - $1,500 – 2 Awards (Deadline: June 30, 2012)

In an effort to get students committed to the cause of deleting cyberbullying, we are offering the Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship Award for high school and college students. Students may win one of two $1,500 scholarships for educational expenses.

Applications can be found by going to: http://www.studentscholarships.org/scholarship/10235/delete_cyberbullying_scholarship_award_scholarship.php

5) Digital Innovation Scholarship - $1,000 – 1 Award (Deadline: August 12, 2012)

To be eligible for this scholarship you must:
1. Write a 500 word essay describing your personal experience with internet entrepreneurship or the importance of new ideas in the digital realm. Topics could include user experience, visual design or any other aspect of digital information you find interesting.

6) Odenza Marketing Group Fall Scholarship - $500 – 1 Award (Deadline: September 30, 2012)

To be considered eligible for the Odenza Marketing Group Fall Scholarship you must:
1.  Be between the ages of 16 and 25 on September 30, 2012
2.  Submit answers to the essay questions, which can be found on the application page, prior to the September 30, 2012 deadline.