Applications soar for SELCO’s significantly expanded program, which now awards individual grants of as much as $2,500 each to K-12 educators

SELCO Community Credit Union has awarded nearly $82,000 in funding to 44 educators representing schools from across Oregon as part of SELCO’s vastly expanded Creative Educator Grants program. 

Creative Educator Grants are designed for K-12 educators with creative classroom ideas who need more funding to get those projects off the ground. Thanks to SELCO’s Steps Up initiative launched earlier this year, the grant program received a significant boost for 2024. Formerly known as SPARK! Creative Learning Grants, Creative Educator Grants have increased in value from $1,000 in 2023 to as much as $2,500 per recipient, with the total amount of grant funding increasing from $53,000 to $81,691.

The program’s expansion resulted in nearly double the number of applications this year compared with 2023. Grant recipients represent a wide range of programs, including a 3D printer at Westside Village Magnet School in Bend, allowing students to create products to launch their own small businesses. Other recipients include “Innovative Automotive Engineering: Building Working Model Engines and Small EV Cars,” which engages students at Fern Ridge Middle School in Elmira with hands-on automotive engineering by building working model engines and small electric vehicles.

A complete list of recipients and project descriptions can be found HERE. 

“The significant increase in applications underscores not only the great need for similar funding programs but also the inspiring creativity of our educators,” said Craig Carpenter, SELCO’s senior vice president of lending and business banking. “As a credit union founded by educators, SELCO is dedicated to ensuring innovative ideas don’t stall due to lack of funding. This year's program expansion brings us closer to achieving that mission.”

To choose the recipients of this year’s Creative Educator Grants, a selection panel reviewed applications based on project originality, proposal clarity, number of students affected, and potential for skill development. The panel blindly reviewed all applications.

John Sperry, a teacher at Hamlin Middle School in Springfield, was one of this year's grant recipients for his project revamping his school's news broadcast channel, which is reported, written, and directed by students.

"What I'm hoping for," said Sperry, "is that we'll feel more cohesive, more like we have a belonging culture here ... instead of it just being that school that they go to."

See a video spotlight of Sperry’s program HERE. See a video spotlight of teacher Jill Plumb’s program, which earned a 2023 grant, HERE.

As educators increasingly dip into their own pockets to pay for classroom-related expenses, SELCO Steps Up not only expanded the Creative Educator Grant program it kicked off Regional Classroom Makeovers, which will award three Oregon classrooms with as much as $15,000 each to remake their learning environments. 

For more information about Creative Educator Grants, to view past grant recipients, or to learn more about SELCO Steps Up student and educator support programs, visit www.selco.org/steps-up/student-and-educator-support/.