Education Grants

PIKEVILLE, KY (Jan. 29, 2019) -- The Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce recently awarded nearly $6,000 in education grants through its Excellence in Education Grant Program to five schools across the region, including three in Martin County, one in Johnson County, and one in Pike County.

Jordan Gibson, president and CEO of the Southeast Kentucky Chamber, said the educators in the region who apply for the education grants always have exciting and innovative projects for which they are seeking funding.

“The Chamber is honored to be able to give back to the educators in the region who are making a difference in the lives of their students. The applicants who apply for these grants each year go above and beyond for their students by finding outside resources that will make learning more fun and efficient,” said Gibson.

Sheldon Clark High School, Martin County Area Technology Center, and Eden Elementary were among the three schools to receive grants from Martin County. Eden Elementary educator Micah Davis received $1,100 to purchase Google Chromebooks for her classroom. Students will use the Chromebooks, along with those already available, to learn coding and robotics. Sheldon Clark’s Emaleigh Osborn received $1,231 to purchase Google Chromebooks for her students to use. Osborn said those computers will allow students to participate in virtual labs, individual instruction and for a coding class. Rachel Addison-Miller, an educator at Martin County ATC, received $1,167 to create a school store operated by students, with supervision from teachers. In addition to students learning about business, the profits from the store will be invested into the store to keep it self-sustaining.

Johnson County’s Highland Elementary educator Amanda O’Bryan received $1,236 for a project she calls the “Creation Lab.” O’Bryan will use the funds to purchase building materials as well as coding equipment to engage students. The purchases include coding robots, roller coaster building activities, and others.

Pikeville High School Band Director Scott Bersaglia received $1,227 to purchase new equipment for students to use. Bersaglia said the purchases will allow the students to learn and perform more challenging and demanding music. The band will purchase new cymbals, stands and mutes with the funds.

“Each year, the Chamber looks forward to presenting these education grants to the dedicated educators of this region,” said Gibson. “We are honored to be able to give back to those educators and the students who are the future of this region.”

The Chamber’s Excellence in Education Grant Program funds approximately $5,000 in educational projects annually in schools in the eight counties the Chamber serves: Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, and Pike. Each school can only receive one grant per grant cycle and must wait two grant cycles to receive another grant.

For more information about the Chamber’s Excellence in Education Grant program, visit the Chamber online at, www.sekchamber.com, or by phone at, (606) 432-5504.

The Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is located at 178 College Street, Pikeville, and serves more than 500 businesses in eight Eastern Kentucky Counties: Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, and Pike. The Chamber’s mission is to be a resource for businesses in Southeast Kentucky that is committed to improving the regional economy.