Lou Holtz Hall of Fame
Lou Holtz Hall of Fame

2007-2008 "I Believe in YOUth"

Teacher Grant Winners Announced

EAST LIVERPOOL -- Winning essays have been selected in the 2007-2008 "I Believe in YOUth" teacher grant program established this year by the Lou Holtz/Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame, and awards totaling $7,000 are to be distributed.

The grants are to be used to help teachers defray their costs on projects or purchases in the coming school year that will help them motivate their students toward success.

This year's grant awards and winners are as follows:

  • $1,000 to Amy Beilhart, Allison Elementary: In-room reading area carpet, chairs, shelves, books, audio books and rewards
  • $1,000 to Andrea Jarrett, Beaver Local Middle: Special education “school store” inventory and cash register
  • $1,000 to Marianna Milajecki, St. Aloysius: Art supplies and art history multimedia to enhance imagination and problem solving skills
  • $1,000 to Beth Morris, Oak Glen Middle: iPods for multiple classroom uses, such as audio testing and podcast lessons
  • $1,000 to Janis Pridemore, Westgate Middle: Videotaping equipment for student use and student-led Earth Day video project
  • $500 to Mollie Burns, Rogers Elementary: Autistic "sensory area" within classroom
  • $500 to Gerry Porter, St. Aloysius: User-friendly and black-line maps, books and DVD discovery series
  • $500 to Anna Troynar, Allison Elementary: In-class learning center with tape recorder, CD player, projector and storage
  • $500 to Jeanne Waggoner, Daw Middle School: Students’ personal book purchase and binding of self-written books
  • Honorable mention, Vicky Snider, Allison Elementary: interactive white board
  • Honorable mention, Heather Zernich, St. Aloysius: smart board or replacement black board
Winning teachers will be recognized at the June 13 Hall of Fame induction banquet, where they will receive their checks.

In the fall, an open-house was held to launch the grant program, and area teachers from all over the Upper Ohio Valley attended, touring the Hall of Fame, enjoying back-to-school refreshments, and receiving acknowledgement for the work they do. Door prizes totaling more than $4,000 were distributed.

Coach Lou Holtz endorsed the program by providing $25,000 to be used at $5,000 per year for the first five years. For the initial year, the Hall of Fame contributed $1,000, and the National Network of Digital Schools contributed $1,000.

In addition to this year’s cash awards, judges also selected two honorable mention essays, and the Hall of Fame has provided them each a Holtz autographed football to be used in fundraising for their classroom motivation ideas.

In order to qualify to compete for the grants, teachers were required to bring a class on a field trip to the Hall of Fame, send in an entry form and submit an essay of up to 500 words on how they would use a grant to motivate their students and show the students they believe in them.

Each of the more than 300 students visiting received a "Do Right" Hall of Fame wristband, and all participating teachers received a Coach Holtz motivational poster for the classroom.

Teachers from accredited schools throughout the Upper Ohio Valley were invited to participate.