The Foundation is pleased to announce two winners of $5,000 “Dare to Dream” grants. The awards support a greenhouse at Winona Middle School, and a unified kitchen at Winona Senior High School.
Each year, the Foundation supports innovation and creativity by offering WAPS employees the opportunity to apply for one $5,000 “Dare to Dream” grant. Applicants don’t need to follow the Foundation’s normal grant guidelines, but the funded project must benefit WAPS students. Thanks to a generous gift from Fastenal, a second “Dare to Dream” grant was awarded this year!
Brittney Steine, who leads the DEEDs (Discover, Explore, Engage, Develop) program at WMS, is collaborating with the Advanced Woodworking Class at WSHS to build a greenhouse that will produce plants to be sold in a student-run store. Revenue will sustain greenhouse expenses and generate funding to support DEEDs initiatives. Through building the greenhouse and managing the store, students will gain authentic experience in professional communication, time management, budgeting, marketing, and collaborative teamwork to enrich classroom experiences.
Kellie Fihn and Molly Rossbach lead the Independent Living Program at WSHS. With secondary transition support from Mindy Reinardy, the team helps students with disabilities prepare for life after high school. Their grant award supports a unified kitchen at WSHS to provide every student with the space to learn cooking and daily living skills with the same access and equity as their peers. The updated, accessible kitchen will include a French door wall-mounted oven, roll-under induction 4-burner stovetop, induction pots and pans, grab bars, solid bottom pull-out shelving, and a pull-out cutting board.
Congratulations to both “Dare to Dream” winners!