SELCO Community Credit Union opens public vote to fund three classroom makeovers across Oregon

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (KTVZ) -- SELCO Community Credit Union is inviting Oregonians to cast a vote of a different kind — for their favorite classroom makeover project among nine finalists. The online public vote will decide three winning educators for a Regional Classroom Makeover—one each from Central and Eastern Oregon, Northwest Oregon, and Southwest Oregon. The three winners will receive as much as $15,000 apiece to transform their learning spaces.

The public voting process is open now through Thursday, Nov. 14 at www.selco.org/vote. Voters are limited to one vote among the finalists in their local region.

The Classroom Makeover program is part of the SELCO Steps Up initiative that launched earlier this year. One of the key goals for SELCO Steps Up is to introduce new programs in response to the changing needs of the community. One such need was additional financial support for educators, who often dip into their pockets each school year to make even modest classroom improvements. For this program, SELCO defined “Classroom” as any school learning space, including traditional classrooms, libraries, gymnasiums, and outdoor spaces.

The response from educators underscored this need, with applications arriving from across the state for a wide array of project ideas.

“It’s been exciting to see such high-quality, diverse applications in the program’s inaugural year,” said Olivia Sorensen, Senior Community Development Specialist for SELCO. “We believe that accessible, inclusive, and inspiring learning spaces are essential to student success — and these projects hit the mark.”

The nine finalists chosen by the SELCO Steps Up selection committee include:

From Central/Eastern Oregon:

• Caldera High School, Bend: Finish the build-out and expansion of a Makerspace, including storage solutions, compressed air tie-in modifications, quality tools, and equipment to work on bikes. Submitted by Gavin Meyers.
• Buckingham Elementary School, Bend: Create an inclusive classroom environment that enhances learning and makes every student feel valued. Submitted by Emily Phillips.
• Trinity Lutheran School, Bend: Creating a “science room” that fosters hands-on learning with microscopes, stethoscopes, storage, and more. Submitted by Alisa Jeffries.

From Northwest Oregon:

• Roseway Heights Middle School, Portland: Transform a former basement storage space into a welcoming environment for English Language Development students. Submitted by Kim Stave.
• Mt. Angel Middle School, Mt. Angel: Transforming the library into a vibrant, cozy hub where students can explore, learn, and thrive with diverse resources and inviting spaces. Submitted by Jeff Taylor.
• Jefferson Elementary School, Jefferson: Transform a music classroom, adding seats, risers, and performing stages for everyday learning and special performances. Submitted by Kevin Lake.

From Southwest Oregon:

• Butte Falls Charter School, Butte Falls: Transforming an older space into a Makerspace, with modern classroom necessities, including insulation, an HVAC unit, and electrical services. Submitted by Ben DeCarlow.
• Yujin Gakuen Elementary School, Eugene: Restoring an outdoor learning space for hands-on lessons in sustainability, food cultivation, and immersion in Japanese culture. Submitted byMariko Maddock.
• Prairie Mountain School, Eugene: Creating an inclusive playground with many types of accessible play equipment for every child. Submitted by Amanda Zacharek.

“We look forward to continuing this tradition of supporting transformative classroom experiences for educators and students,” said Sorensen. “We’re hopeful these initial projects will inspire even more educators to bring forward their ideas in future years.”

Vote at www.selco.org/vote and click HERE for an image of the SELCO Steps Up team in a local classroom. For more information about SELCO Steps Up Classroom Makeovers, visit www.selco.org/steps-up/student-and-educator-support/.

About SELCO Steps Up:

The SELCO Steps Up program aims to create positive, innovative, lasting change through volunteerism, resource support, and collaboration with community partners. Year to date, SELCO has reinvested more than $225,000 in the communities it serves through educator grants, scholarships, and impact-driven sponsorships, and plans to reinvest as much as $125,000 before the end of 2024. SELCO staff has also committed more than 1,100 volunteer hours so far in 2024. As a credit union founded by teachers, education is a cornerstone of these efforts, with a focus on removing barriers to financial literacy. By empowering individuals and families to achieve financial well-being, SELCO strives to build a strong foundation for all its members and neighbors. Learn more at www.selco.org/steps-up.

About SELCO Community Credit Union:

Founded nearly 90 years ago by a group of fiscally minded teachers, Springfield-based SELCO Community Credit Union today serves more than 150,000 members as one of the largest and longest-standing Oregon-based credit unions. A not-for-profit, federally insured, member-driven financial cooperative with more than $2.7 billion in assets, SELCO provides its member-owners with exceptional rates and low fees on a full range of financial products and services, including banking, mortgages, personal and business loans, investments, and insurance. Membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of the 27 Oregon or eight Washington counties SELCO serves. For more information or to become a member today, stop by one of SELCO’s 15 branches, visit selco.org, or call 800-445-4483.