EGRHS art teacher Terry Szpieg and EGRMS art teacher Holly Lampen have long relationships with the Foundation. We helped fund the Gone Boarding class Szpieg teaches in which students design and build their own surfboards and skateboards. And we’ve funded so many of Lampen’s grants for murals at the middle school that many first time-visitors think it’s an art school.
Alison Maes is a relatively new teacher in the art department, but she’s already working with us to provide opportunities to art students at the middle and high school. This spring, the Foundation approved her grant application for $3,350 in art supplies for both schools.
“My goal is to strengthen and sustain the art program at the high school by ensuring students have consistent access to high-quality materials across all disciplines,” Maes wrote in her application. “To support this goal, I am requesting funding to purchase additional high quality glaze and clay for our sculpture and ceramics program (in collaboration with Terry Szpieg). These materials are essential to maintaining a strong, hands-on curriculum, and consistent access ensures that students can fully explore three-dimensional design, surface treatment, and glazing techniques without limitations due to supply shortages.
“I would also like to purchase classroom sets of Prismacolor colored pencils, alcohol markers, and micron pens. These materials are more costly than standard supplies, but they enhance student work and are consistently student favorites. Access to quality materials allows students to explore blending, layering, and color techniques at a much higher level and really makes a difference in the quality of their finished artwork.
“In addition, I would like to purchase replacement stylus pens for our classroom iPads (primarily at the middle school where I teach digital art. This request is per collaboration with Holly Lampen, but we also need replacements here at the HS too). Many of our current styluses are worn out and no longer usable, which limits the ability to fully participate in digital art projects. Replacing these tools will allow students to continue developing digital art skills and ensure that our technology resources remain functional and meaningful in instruction.
“These higher-quality materials are a greater investment than standard supplies, but they significantly enhance student learning and creative outcomes. This grant will allow us to maintain adequate supplies of foundational items such as drawing pencils, canvas, adhesives, and paper, ensuring that all art classes are fully supported throughout the school year.
This request will be implemented immediately in my class by students using the materials to create their artwork and will be seen through the quality of the student work, student engagement, and student feedback based on materials that they enjoy using.”
Thank you, Foundation donors, for giving our students access to these materials!
