Mississippi Power Foundation awards education grants

The Mississippi Power Foundation has awarded 13 education grants totaling more than $45,000 to southeast Mississippi schools and school districts for innovative programs.

The Picayune Separate School District received a grant to start strategic planning initiatives within the next school year. The project is designed to get more community involvement in planning and evaluating the curriculum.

Lumberton Elementary and Mason Elementary schools in Laurel received grants to support literacy programs that target kindergarten and first grade students. Runnelstown Elementary School was awarded a grant for a project that combines the fun of preparing foods with learning basic math, science and language arts skills.

Five schools were selected for innovative science programs. McLain Attendance Center received a grant for “Have Science, Will Travel,” a mobile science laboratory. Pearl River Central Middle School was awarded a grant to start a unique science program that encourages students to excel by utilizing their individual learning styles. Northwest Junior High School in Meridian was awarded a grant for a multimedia program that will introduce students to the world of microbiology. Bassfield Elementary School received a grant for a hands-on science exhibit. Waynesboro Middle School will use their grant to fund a project to educate students about photography.

Four Coast schools were also awarded grants from the foundation. Students in Quarles Elementary School will benefit from a grant that provides them with take-home materials that reinforce lessons taught in school.

Gulfport High School received a grant to send representatives to the “Coalition of Essential Schools” forum in San Francisco this November.

Taconi Elementary School received a grant for an innovative geography program. St. John Elementary School was awarded a grant for a project that provides software for individual classroom instruction.

“The Mississippi Power Foundation is proud to be able to support worthy projects for Mississippi’s children,” said Huntley Biggs, executive director, Mississippi Power Foundation. “We hope other schools will follow the example of this year’s grant recipients and strive to benefit our youth.”

The Mississippi Power Foundation was set up in 1984 by Mississippi Power Company to support excellence in education. In the past 13 years, the Foundation has awarded more than $2 million in grants for education projects in Mississippi.