Submitted photos Beverly Elementary School principal Paul Zickefoose, right, was on hand at the Elkins Rotary Club International Festival on May 17 to receive a grant for $1,598.00 from Elkins Rotarians Chris Lee and Tammie Rizzio to purchase ‘Heggerty Bridge to Writing’ for second- and third-grades. The program will improve the fundamental writing skills of students, build student confidence and engagement in the writing process, and foster long-term literacy development and academic success.

ELKINS — The Rotary Club of Elkins awarded grants totaling $11,871.32 during its inaugural International Festival. Grant recipients were Beverly Elementary School, Coalton Elementary School, Elkins High School Band, Elkins Randolph County Public Library, Midland Elementary School, Pioneer Memorial Public Library and Randolph Technical Center.

“We have incredible people working in our schools and libraries who are doing everything they can to give our local children the best opportunities. This simple truth has been clear throughout the application process – each and every project that has been awarded funding this year is well deserving of our club’s support, and each project will make an immediate impact in our communities by benefiting the education experience of our youth. I encourage all school and library administrators to seize the opportunity next year during our annual school and libraries community grant program and apply for funding.  It is our goal as a club for these awards to have an impact in every school and library in the county and to achieve that goal, we need your help,” said Rotarian grant committee chair Chris Lee.

“Thanks so much to the building administrators, directors and teachers who put together an application for a project at their respective school or library and congratulations to all those who were awarded.”

Beverly Elementary School received a grant for $1,598.00 to purchase Heggerty Bridge to Writing for 2nd and 3rd grades. The program will improve the fundamental writing skills of students, build student confidence and engagement in the writing process and foster long-term literacy development and academic success. It will also support the 2nd and 3rd grade teachers with effective, research-based writing instruction tools. “Investing in this program is not just about improving writing scores. It’s about giving students the tools to think critically, advocate for themselves and succeed across all areas of learning. It addresses an urgent need for structured, equitable writing instruction and will have a lasting impact on students’ educational trajectories,” said Beverly Elementary School teacher Stacy Defibaugh.

Coalton Elementary School will be using its grant of $1,186.71 to complete its Bearcat Book Bin project. An outdoor lending library will be developed including the purchase of library boxes, books, book labels and prizes for the upcoming ‘Read Beyond the Walls’ summer reading program. Three outdoor library boxes will be purchased and stocked with books based on grade levels Pre-K through 1, 2-3 and 4-5. The boxes will be placed in the approach to the school in a secure area. Grant funds, as well as funds from the May Book Fair held at the school, will be used to purchase books for the library boxes. “At Coalton Elementary School, we are passionate about helping our students grow as readers, thinkers and leaders. This project not only addresses summer learning loss but also empowers students to take pride in their school community and develop a personal connection to books,” said Coalton Elementary School Principal Melissa Walters.

Receiving Coalton Elementary School’s grant of $1,186.71 from Elkins Rotarians Chris Lee and Tammie Rizzio during the group’s International Festival is Coalton guidance counselor Victoria Cheuvront, middle. The grant will be used to build the Bearcat Book Bin project and provide support for Coalton’s ‘Read Beyond the Walls’ summer reading program.

The Elkins High School Band will be using its grant of $2,500 to aid in the purchase of a Jupiter Sousaphone. It is anticipated that the band will grow to over 100 musicians for the 2025-2026 school year, with four tuba (sousaphone) players. The band currently has two tubas and funding has been secured to purchase an additional tuba, leaving the band one short of the needed number. “Though the growth of interest and investment has grown, so has the need for students to utilize school instruments as our economic status per student has continued to diminish. I take great pride in ensuring the students are able to play quality instruments without the fear of economic burden,” said Elkins High School band director Seth Blake.

The Elkins Randolph County Library received $1,800 to purchase books, craft supplies and food for its summer reading program. “The grant from Rotary will further our summer reading program beyond the experience at the library. Many participants will benefit from having reading materials at home. It is also our goal to provide free books that kids can take home and keep for continued enjoyment. Additional funds will be used to extend food availability to participants as needed,” said library director Ruth Mitchell.

Midland Elementary School will use its grant of $750 to purchase various sensory options including flexible yoga seating balls, sensory liquid wall mount tiles, flexible yoga seating mats, bubble sensory light tubes, unbreakable mirrors and a sensory fidget multipack. “Rotary was able to help me start providing sensory options for students in my classroom. After hearing a speaker on the advantages sensory options could provide, especially for struggling students, I embarked on making this happen for my classroom. I could not have done that without the Rotary club, and I, and my students, will be forever thankful. Every year, I watch students feel safe, loved, and encouraged to work through their problems with these sensory options. This has become an essential part of my teaching style, and I hope to always continue this in my classroom and extend it out the whole school,” said Midland Elementary School teacher Jodi Burke.

Pioneer Memorial Public Library received $1,536.61 to develop a creative play/learning area in the children’s activity room. The area will include rugs, floor cushions and chairs, a bookshelf and a reading nook. It will also include various toys and games, an activity wall and an educational clock. “Pioneer Memorial Public Library serves a rural community and is situated next to a public school. Our youth don’t have a lot of opportunities. The library serves as a place where they can explore the world without leaving their hometown. If we can provide them activities and programs, and make them feel safe and comfortable, they will leave with an educational experience and the resources needed in today’s world,” said Library Director Jennie Shifflett.

Randolph Technical Center’s grant of $2,500 will be used to purchase a Grizzly 3HP Extreme Series bandsaw for the Millwork & Cabinetmaking program. “At Randolph Technical Center, we are not just teaching students how to use tools, we are equipping them with skills, discipline and the confidence needed to succeed in real-world careers, becoming productive, capable members of our community. Our Millwork & Cabinetmaking program is hands-on, high-impact and rooted in the belief that career and technical education change lives,” said Randolph Technical Center instructor Jonathon Clingerman.

On behalf of Elkins High School Band Director Seth Blake, Aaron Talbott, center, a fellow teacher at EHS, received the band’s grant of $2,500 from Elkins Rotarians Chris Lee and Tammie Rizzio at Rotary’s International Festival. The grant will aid in the purchase of a Jupiter Sousaphone.

“We are thrilled to see the projects that will be completed as a result of the funds raised and distributed to our schools and libraries through our International Festival fundraiser this year. The projects submitted represent a wide array of learning opportunities for the children of Randolph County. We applaud all applicants who, through this process, demonstrated their commitment to our children by not accepting the status quo but by pursuing an avenue to enhance, grow or otherwise support their efforts to further the educational opportunities for the students they work with. The Elkins Rotary club is especially appreciative to our event sponsors, community partners that donated to the event, food vendors that attended and everyone who purchased a ticket; without the outpouring of support from our community, we would not have been able to give as generously as we did,” added Elkins Rotary Club President Tammie Rizzio.

Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in their communities, and in themselves. Visit www.Rotary.org to learn more about Rotary International, visit the club’s Facebook page – Rotary Club of Elkins – or contact club president Tammie Rizzio at tammierizzio@gmail.com for more information about the Rotary Club of Elkins.

The Elkins Randolph County Library received a grant of $1,800 to purchase books, craft supplies and food for its summer reading program from Elkins Rotarians Chris Lee, left, and Tammie Rizzio, right, during Rotary’s International Festival. Library board members Jen Morgan and Ben Shaffer were presented the grant during the event.

Jodi Burke, right, a teacher at Midland Elementary School, received a grant for $750 to purchase various sensory options such as sensory liquid wall mount tiles, bubble sensory light tubes and a sensory fidget multipack for her classroom from Elkins Rotarians Chris Lee and Tammie Rizzio during Rotary’s International Festival.

Jennie Shifflett, middle, Pioneer Memorial Public Library director, received a grant of $1,536.61 from Rotarians Chris Lee and Tammie Rizzio during the group’s International Festival. The grant will be used by the library to develop a creative play/learning area in the children’s activity room, including rugs, floor cushions and chairs, a bookshelf and a reading nook.

Instructor Jonathon Clingerman, middle, of the Randolph Technical Center, received a grant of $2,500 from Elkins Rotarians Chris Lee and Tammie Rizzio during Rotary’s International Festival. The grant will be used to purchase a Grizzly 3HP Extreme Series bandsaw for the Millwork & Cabinetmaking program.