Foundation for WAPS awards two 'Dream' grants

The Foundation for Winona Area Public Schools is pleased to announce two winners of $5,000 “Dare to Dream” grants. The awards support a greenhouse at Winona Middle School and a unified kitchen at Winona Senior High School.

Each year, the Foundation supports innovation and creativity by offering WAPS employees the opportunity to apply for one $5,000 “Dare to Dream” grant. Applicants don’t need to follow the Foundation’s normal grant guidelines, but the funded project must benefit WAPS students. Thanks to a generous gift from Fastenal, a second “Dare to Dream” grant was awarded this year.

Greenhouse Project – Winona Middle School

Brittney Steine, who leads the DEEDs (Discover, Explore, Engage, Develop) program at WMS, is collaborating with the Advanced Woodworking Class at WSHS to build a greenhouse that will produce plants to be sold in a student-run store. Revenue will sustain greenhouse expenses and generate funding to support DEEDs initiatives. Through building the greenhouse and managing the store, students will gain authentic experience in professional communication, time management, budgeting, marketing, and collaborative teamwork to enrich classroom experiences.

Unified Kitchen Project – Winona Senior High School

Kellie Fihn and Molly Rossbach lead the Independent Living Program at WSHS. With secondary transition support from Mindy Reinardy, the team helps students with disabilities prepare for life after high school. Their grant award supports a unified kitchen at WSHS to provide every student with the space to learn cooking and daily living skills with the same access and equity as their peers. The updated, accessible kitchen will include a French door wall-mounted oven, roll-under induction 4-burner stovetop, induction pots and pans, grab bars, solid-bottom pull-out shelving, and a pull-out cutting board.

The Foundation for WAPS is an independent, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization established in 1991 and funded entirely by community and business supporters of education in Winona. The single purpose of the Foundation is to enrich and expand educational opportunities in WAPS by supporting important programs and projects that would otherwise not be available via normal District resources. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.FoundationWAPS.org or contact Support@FoundationWAPS.org.