Contact: Ann E. Spehar
Tel: (630) 420-3086
Email: [email protected]
www.nef203.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEF ANNOUNCES WOW! PRIZE WINNERS
The Naperville Education Foundation (NEF) is proud to announce the 2016 Annual Grant
Awards WOW! Prize Winners. WOW! Prizes are given to award winning proposals that
“knocked the socks off” of the evaluation teams.
Alternative Energies Home
Math & Science
Michael Klick
Kennedy Junior High School
Students will apply the knowledge they have acquired in their Project Lead the Way courses relating
to basic engineering techniques and the different types of alternative energies to create a foam board
model of a house that they have designed in 3-dimensional Imaging software (Google SketchUp/
Layout and Autodesk Inventor). The house will be designed, from ground up, to be powered solely
by alternative energies. The actual foam board model will be constructed from a large-scale digital
layout and will incorporate the built-in alternative energy systems (solar, wind, geothermal, etc.).
Forged in Friendship
General
Maura Anderson
Connections
microConnections is a microbusiness that provides young adults with disabilities the opportunity to
empower their lives through working in an environment that supports continued job skill
development and citizenship. microConnections offers creative work opportunities that uphold
individual dignity while furthering transferrable job skill acquisition. microConnections is committed
to inspiring environmental literacy and fellowship for our young adult learners across our work
experiences.
Building the SUCCESS Program
Cultural Studies
Kristin Fitzgerald, Allison Polk, Lisa Xagas
Beebe, Mill St. Elementary Schools; Jefferson Junior High School
Research clearly shows that parent involvement and support of education is one of the greatest
indicators for student success. With this in mind, African-American parents at Naperville North
founded the SUCCESS group to lend parent leadership to the multifaceted efforts to close the
achievement gap between African American students and Caucasian students. This project expands
the SUCCESS parent group to Beebe Elementary, Mill Street Elementary and Jefferson Junior High
in order to provide a community for our African-American parents as they enter our school system,
arming them with the knowledge and skills needed to support their child's education, collaborating
with school staff to close achievement gaps.
A Dark and Spooky Reading Night
Literacy
Sandra Volling
Elmwood Elementary
Elmwood students will have an opportunity to participate in A Dark and Spooky Reading Night
where engaging stories will be read aloud and students will be inspired to continue to read
independently. The event is designed to encourage independent reading and is tailored to all the
readers in the building by having a variety of read aloud rooms where students are able to choose the
level of spookiness in the stories they will hear.
The Interactive Gallery
Fine Arts
Anna Kraftson, Janet Taylor
Naperville North High School
An interactive touch screen transforms gallery space into a collaborative school wide experience.
Student artwork comes to life on a deeper, more meaningful level as viewers are transported through
video documentation of the student artists' processes from sketch to creation and materials to
concept, through interviews with the artists, making their thinking explicit. A digital guestbook and
video response allows the audience to provide constructive feedback directly to the artist, offering
the students a professional gallery experience, deepening their level of interaction and involvement
with their own artwork and their community audience.
NEF raises and grants funds for programs that enhance and enrich the educational
experience of Naperville School District 203 students. As the philanthropic arm of District
203, our mission is to “encourage creativity, innovation and excellence in our students” and
our purpose is to supplement our school community with private donations to enhance
education and programs for all students.
One such program, solely funded by community donations, is the Annual Grant Awards.
Grant applications are submitted by students, faculty, staff, parents and community
members for District 203 projects in six categories: Cultural Studies, Fine Arts, General,
Health & Physical Development, Literacy and Math & Science. Applications are then
reviewed by evaluation teams made up of NEF Trustees, District 203 faculty, staff and
administration, community members and District retirees.
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Since its founding in 1992, NEF has been inspired by the potential inherent in all children to thrive
and be enriched by their experiences in school. NEF’s “Annual Grant Award” program supplies
teachers with funds for innovative and creative new projects. Other programs include “Kid Booster
Anonymous Fund,” which provides assistance to students by matching their unique needs to
opportunities which enhance educational, physical or socio-emotional growth; “Study Skills
Academy,” a before/after-school program for students who need academic assistance; and the
“Breakfast Program,” that ensures all of our young students start their day ready to learn.
Please consider supporting NEF by visiting www.nef203.org and making a donation, or becoming
involved by offering your time and talent as a volunteer.