Nineteen North Carolina schools each receive $1,000 to promote environmental stewardship in the classroom

RALEIGH – NC Beautiful, a provider of environmental education and beautification opportunities that elevate the quality of life of North Carolinians, has announced this year’s recipients of the organization’s environmental education grants. The grants are available to certified, full-time K-12 teachers in the state of North Carolina.

Windows of Opportunity provides $1,000 grants to NC teachers to reward their creativity fostering environmental stewardship, leadership, and awareness and initiating a sense of community service. Nineteen schools, representing a total of $19,000 in educational grants, were notified of their award this month, with schools to receive their grants in January.  Each school must use its grant by June 2009.

Each grant applicant was required to complete a five-section online application that included a two-page project narrative, budget, and commitment letter, which commits the school to complete the projected work.  NC Beautiful Executive Director, Steve Vacendak, says that the goal of the NC Beautiful is to annually offer a Windows of Opportunity grant in all 100 counties in North Carolina.

“Promoting and fostering environmental stewardship is a state-wide commitment,” says Vacendak.  “NC Beautiful remains committed to expanding our communication efforts to ensure that every school in the state has the opportunity to take advantage of this valuable resource so that everyone can connect to make North Carolina beautiful.”

The Windows of Opportunity grants were created to cultivate an appreciation of natural environments by helping children get out of school and into natural settings.  The grants also build leadership awareness, develop environmental educational mentors and ambassadors, create materials and resources that can be used by other K-12 students, and develop a sustainable, outdoor program, which will continue well after the grant period ends.

The following is a list of the 2008 Windows of Opportunity Grant recipients, including name of the teacher submitting the winning entry:

· Pat Elledge, Harris Elementary, Forest City, Rutherford County
· Michael Stovall, Albemarle Middle School, Albemarle, Stanly County
· Jenifer Lewis, Swift Creek Elementary, Whitakers, Nash County
· Jenny Johnson, Blue Creek Elementary, Jacksonville, Onslow County
· Richard Moore, Brooks Global, Greensboro, Guilford County
· Pam Mitchell, Jones Elementary, Mount Airy, Surry County
· George Riedesel, Balfour Education Center, Hendersonville, Buncombe County
· Donna Campbell, Marvin B. Smith Elementary, Burlington, Alamance County
· Tanya Ledford, Polk County High School, Columbus, Polk County
· Michelle McCartan, Weddington Hills Elementary, Concord, Cabarrus County
· Ann Atwood, Carver Elementary, Mount Olive, Wayne County
· Marcia Morrell, Hill Middle School, Winston-Salem, Forsyth County
· Ben Hall, North Stokes High School, Danbury, Stokes County
· Sibyl Paxson, Scotland High School, Laurinburg, Scotland County
· Elaine Dephouse, Carolina Day School, Asheville, Buncombe County
· Michael Hopkins, Penny Road Elementary School, Cary, Wake County
· Carol Patterson, Rocky River Elementary School, Monroe, Union County
· Amanda DeSua, East Yancey Middle School, Burnsville, Yancey County
· Donna Nichols, Dudley Shoals Elementary, Granite Falls, Caldwell County

About NC Beautiful
NC Beautiful has been part of the state’s environmental preservation community for 40 years, supporting awareness, education and beautification efforts that affect our quality of life. Today, we concentrate on hands-on and merit-based programs designed to empower our citizens to preserve the natural beauty of the state of North Carolina. Whether it’s school children building outdoor classrooms, graduate students developing cutting-edge research, or a Boy Scout troop planting azaleas at an elder care facility, we make it possible for North Carolinians to keep NC Beautiful. For more information, visit www.ncbeautiful.org.