Credit Union of America (CUA) has awarded $48,700 in Teach, Grow, and Inspire the Future (TGIF) classroom grants to 56 teachers across Kansas. Since TGIF launched in 2000, CUA has contributed more than $600,000 to help teachers bring creative ideas to life through classroom projects, supplies, and experiences that enrich learning.

During this application period, more than 175 teachers submitted proposals with ideas aimed at sparking innovation and engagement in their classrooms. Recipients were selected through an anonymous review process conducted by a panel of CUA employees and retired educators. Additional information about each winning project is available upon request.

Local recipients are: Great Bend - Sherry Pruter, Student Emergency Backpack Program, Central Kansas Christian Academy; Hillary Emerson, Sit Smart Not Still, Little Panthers Preschool; Amy Stein, Empowering Young Voices Via a Middle School News Broadcast Journalism Program, Great Bend Middle School; Robyn Heitschmidt, The Fun is in the Details, Great Bend Middle School; and Kara Duncan, Staying Alive, Stafford Jr./Sr. High School.