Elton Gregory Middle School receives $4,995 grant

The Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation recently awarded a $4,995 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant to Elton Gregory Middle School with the purpose of funding a makerspace for the school’s technology program.

A makerspace is a collaborative work space inside a school, library or separate public/private facility for making, learning, exploring and sharing that uses high tech to no tech tools.

Elton Gregory’s makerspace will allow all students to model, draft and build prototype designs for various projects within their technology classes, according to Assistant Principal Gena Bennett.

“Our goal, at Elton Gregory, is to increase the long term value of our technology offerings, by vertically aligning with the technology offerings at Redmond High School and taking into account the needs of our local community career and technical education partners,” Bennett said. “By making these changes, our technology classes could serve as a starting point for a pathway to a career in a technology-related field.”

The grant will enable students at EGMS to have the opportunity to explore career technical programs and learn at a higher level by solving problems involving constructing and modeling within a hands-on learning environment.

“The Lowe’s Toolbox for Education program delivers on Lowe’s commitment to improve the educational environment for students across the country,” said Maureen Ausura, chairwoman of the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. “We’re honored to work with Elton Gregory Middle School to support the needs of our local students, teachers and families.”