Walnut Middle School teacher receives grant from GIPS Foundation

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - The Grand Island Public Schools Foundation surprised teachers in the district Wednesday and Thursday with grants to improve their classrooms.

The teachers applied for the grant money to be used for enriching students’ lives in positive ways.

One of the 13 grant recipients is Walnut Middle School Social Studies Teacher and Athletic Director Eon Lemburg. He plans to use the money for weight lifting equipment.

“It’ll go for kettlebells, resistance bands; a lot of it can be like body weight stuff and then row machines,” said Lemburg.

The equipment is used as part of a before-school lifting program that Lemburg runs for the kids.

“I just want to make sure the kids in Grand Island have a good upbringing too, and that they have the right things and the right needs are met,” he said.

The GIPS Foundation awarded 13 grants, totaling more than $17,000. Grants range from $250 to $2,500.

Since the program’s inception, the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation has funded 340 classroom grants totaling $313,966. Grants have been awarded to every school in the district benefiting approximately 67,442 students.

The classroom grant program is funded in part through the GIPS Foundation Harvest Gala, community giving, GIPS Staff Giving Campaign, and the Janeth Davis Memorial Fund.

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