The first time the Foundation–thanks to our donors–funded a set of ukuleles for 5th graders was way back in the fall of 2015. To give you an idea of how long ago that was, another grant funded that fall was for students to visit a King Tut exhibit. Remember King Tut?
That first set of ukuleles was housed at Breton Downs. Two years later, in the fall of 2017, the Foundation funded a second set, this time at Lakeside. And now, thanks to a grant requested by elementary music teacher Samantha Pugia, Wealthy Elementary 5th graders are getting a set of their own.
“One of the first things Lakeside Elementary fifth graders asked me when they came into the music room and saw the ukuleles out was when they could play the ukulele,” Pugia wrote in her application. “Not a month goes by without a student asking if they can perform a song for me on the ukulele. When my Lakeside students had the opportunity to perform on the ukulele last year, their excitement was off the charts! Even students who are generally shy to participate in performing on an instrument could not wait to get their hands on a ukulele. They were beaming, sharing knowledge, and it was apparent how excited they were to learn. I want that for Wealthy Elementary students, as well. I want these students to learn the ukulele because it is such a fun instrument and I want to create a spark and strengthen their passion for music.”
