The Boone County Community Foundation (BCCF) is excited to announce our latest initiative. The Board of Directors has developed a mini-grant program similar to programs that have been gaining success with other foundations across the state. The Education Mini-Grant program awards funds to teachers to support innovative classroom projects that will positively impact student learning and enhance their current curriculum. Classroom projects must directly involve students and be completed during the traditional school year. A separate grant application, consisting of only two pages, was created to simplify the application process and teachers may request grant awards of up to $500. Projects should reflect areas of need and should show innovation and educational merit. Applications are judged based on project details alone; school and applicant information is hidden from the review committee. Applications are due October 15th each year and awarded in November. The BCCF has awarded mini-grants since 2018. Applications for 2025/26 school year will be available Sept 1, 2025.
Past grant recipients:
2024
Boone Career & Technical Center:
Ilyana Kano Owens “BCTC Culinary Catering”
Loretta Thompson “Dementia Training for Certified Nursing Assistant Students”
Kelly Bennett “Fairy Tale Makeovers”
Timothy Fowler “Shop Up Grade”
Chris Baldwin “Equipment Upgrades”
Patrick Bryant “Exhaust Fans”
Brandon Geer “Booth Safety Welding Screens”
Heather Tomblin “STEM Gel Electrophoresis”
Kelly Harless “Clinical Nursing Injection & Suture Equipment”
Steven Hodges “Replacement Shop Parts Washer”
Robert Miller “Celebration of the River 6”
Caspia Sheppard “CPR/First Aid Instructional Materials”
Brookview Elementary School:
Cortney Browning “Little Leaps: Playful Pathways to Wellness”
Beth Burns “Reading is for Everyone!”
Madison Middle School:
Jill Book-Ball “WV Natural Wonders”
Ramage Elementary School:
Arlie Asbury “Small Group Instruction Made Fun”
Nancy Woody “The Best Christmas Pageant at Ramage”
Scott High School:
Madhavi Amaravadi “Obesity – The Mother of all Diseases”
Terry Bartley “Graphic Novels as Literature”
Ashleigh Garrett “Enhancing School Art Displays”
Kimberly Gillispie “Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary”
Sherman Jr High School:
Madison Workman “Book Tasting: Introduce Your Students to Books and Genres”
Van Elementary School:
Joey Lares “Boomwhackers: Bringing Music to the Students”
Amanda Hoosier “Weather Watching”
Vickie Parks “Let’s Light UP Our Senses for Learning!”
Van Jr/Sr High School:
Terry Duty “Different Styles of Painting”
2023
Ashford-Rumble Elementary School:
Reagan Casto “Science of Reading”
Cynthia McCallister “Hands on Learning”
Boone Career & Technical Center:
Chris Baldwin “Hand Tools”
Kelly Bennett “Fantasy Manikin Project”
Patrick Bryant “Hand on Projects”
Brandon Geer “Mobile Safety Welding Screens”
Kelly Harless “Nursing Skills Lab”
Robert Miller “Celebration of the River V”
Jeff Nelson “Individualized Learning Content and Automation”
Caspia Sheppard “Skeleton Model”
Brookview Elementary School:
Cortney Browning “Bear Hugs for Better Focus”
Scott High School:
Madhavi Amaravadi “Detection of P53 Gene Using Gel Electrophoresis Technique”
Terry Bartley “Audio Production Studio”
Ashleigh Garrett “Paper Making”
Kimberly Gillispie “Self-sustaining Ecosystem Lab”
Sherman Jr High School:
Amber Castle “E-Mission – Operation Montserrat”
Bobbi Jeffrey “Photo Innovation”
Van Elementary School:
Amy Cabell “5th Grade Career Day Project-College and Career Readiness”
Kendra Gogas “Bulldogs Love Physical Education”
Kristin Green “Making “STEAM” Meaningful”
Joey Lares “Family Cooking Night”
Vickie Parks “Our Future Flies on the Wings of Pollinators”
2022
Boone Career & Technical Center:
Robert Miller “Celebration of the River IV”
Brookview Elementary School:
Cortney Browning “A Picture Gives 1,000 Words…Continued Again”
Amber Coakley “Steel Drum Program”
Scott High School:
Madhavi Amaravadi “Are Our Local Aquatic
Ecosystems Free From Pollutants”
Terry Bartley “Broadcast Journalism”
Ashleigh Garrett and Melanie Quisenberry “The Hawks Nest Store”
Kimberly Gillispie “Career Fair”
Sherman Elementary School:
Vickie Parks “Multi-Sensory Education Training-Closing the Reading Gap”
Sherman Jr High School:
Caleb Hensley “Curriculum Access for Special Needs”
Van Elementary School:
Amy Cabell “5th Grade Career Day Project-College and Career Readiness”
Kristin Green “Increasing Family Involvement through Photos”
Leanne Lares “Supermarket Sweep”
2021
Boone Career & Technical Center:
Chris Baldwin “Equipment Technology Upgrades”
Robert Miller “Celebration of the River 3”
Caspia Sheppard “ CPR and First Aid Training Materials”
Brookview Elementary School:
Beth Burns, Cortney Browning “A Picture Gives 1,000 Words…Continued”
Scott High School:
Brittani Adkins “Life Help Video Games in the Special Education Classroom”
Sherman Elementary School:
Andrea Clendenin “Outdoor Classroom”
Van Elementary School:
Leanne Lares “Art Center Tools for Preschool”
Kristin Green “Kindergarten Learning Center
2020
Boone Career & Technical Center:
Robert Miller “Walhonde Watershed Spring Cleanup 2021”
Brookview Elementary School:
Beth Burns, Cortney Browning, & Kali Scott “A Picture Gives 1,000 Words”
Katrina Kirk “Sensory Center”
Sherman Elementary School:
Keely Hicks “Courtyard Project”
Van Elementary School:
Amanda Hoosier “Books Before Bedtime”
2019
Brookview Elementary:
Heather Elkins “STEM Bins”
Bretta Kuhn “Classroom Literature Fair”
Doretta Toney “Elementary Greenhouse/Gardening Adventures”
Madison Middle School:
Brandy Ann Conrad “Let’s Get Printing with Printmaking!”
Ramage Elementary:
Arlie Asbury “Elements of Literature Project”
Van Elementary:
Amy Cabell “5th Grade Career Day Fair”
Regina Harless “Come Grow With Us”
Alta Smith “Learning About Community Helpers”
Leanne Lares “Dramatic Play in the Preschool Classroom”
Savannah White “Building Life Skills One Cup at a Time”
2018
Boone Career and Technical Center:
Caspia Sheppard, “Health Care Certification Examination Prep Apps
K.K. Matthews, “Introduction to Podcasting and Language Literacy”
Van Elementary and Brookview Elementary:
Amy Cabell, “5th Grade Career Day Fair”
Van Elementary:
Kristen Green, “Reading Warriors
Amanda Turner, “Steps 4 A Healthy Future
Leanne Lares, “Centers in the Pre-K Classroom”
Ramage Elementary:
Arlie Asbury, “Bill Nye the Science Guy VHS Replacement Project”