Hazel Green High School
Hazel Green, AL

"Bringing Broadway to the Country" is the winning program developed by Merritt to provide students with the opportunity to have fun and express themselves through words, music, dance, and creativity. Since August 2007, theatre students at Hazel Green High School have produced 11 contemporary plays. They have been short, one-act plays with little to no set, and costumes provided by the students. With the funds from ING, the students will be able to produce a full-length play supported by a proper set and with all of the costumes, props and technical components needed to make a play successful. They will purchase copies of one new play, the royalties to perform the play four times, the materials for a theatrical set, and costumes that will be made or rented for that particular play. The production will involve 50-75 students; however, it will be seen by over 500 students during school and several hundred people in the community. Merritt, who lives in Madison, hopes that the program will build a bridge with the community by having a strong performing arts program.

Greystone Elementary School
Hoover, AL

Womack's "Diggin Up Bluegrass" program is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for 690 students at Greystone Elementary School. The students will engage in broad-based musical experiences while participating in hands-on, cutting-edge lessons that connect bluegrass music of the past to future musicians of the genre. They will learn from project-based activities that integrate subjects across the curriculum including patterns in musical form (math), sound (science), historical events (history), maps (geography), CD cover design (art), and clogging (physical education). In addition, the students will participate in hands-on sessions to discuss musical elements and instrument techniques. They will also learn history and current trends from local and regional bands and will eventually participate in an interactive concert with the bands for their families and the community to attend. With the funds from ING, the students will have the opportunity to build their skill sets and learn how to read, arrange, and perform music. Womack, who lives in Hoover, hopes that the program will develop enduring music makers among her students.

Alma Bryant High School
Irvington, AL

The "Freshwater Lobster Aquafarm" is the winning program developed by Stewart. Bryant High School is home to one of the largest high school aquaculture programs in the country. The school is nearing the completion of a long-term project to establish a commercial aquabusiness that is operated by students. For the past 10 years, the students have conducted pilot scale research studies on various seafood species to identify one for commercial production and found that the top contender is a freshwater lobster called the Australian Red Claw. The students have been successful in growing this prize species and several local gourmet restaurants are awaiting the first crop of the lobsters. In addition to growing the lobsters, Stewart has conducted summer aquaculture camps for students to perform routine operations and activities, conduct scientific research, and go on related field trips. The funding from ING will help complete the project. Stewart, who lives in Mobile, hopes that the program will prepare students for a successful business life and encourage them to pursue post-secondary studies.

Richard Elementary School
Auburn, AL

To engage students in a variety of activities and experiments to construct their own knowledge of science concepts through questioning, experimenting, observing and journaling, Johnson proposed the creation of a science lab at Richard Elementary. Rather than simply read about butterflies, balls and ramps, magnets and sound waves in a textbook, Johnson's "Science Quest" project will provide an in-school science lab that allows approximately 120 first and second-grade students to become scientists by encouraging them to use their five senses to explore and experience science. This lab will include a sand and water table, a light table, Digital Blue microscopes, computer, Smart Board, Science books and magazines, tables for Science notebooking, magnifying glasses, test tubes and more. The goal of the lab is to provide a place where children can conduct inquiry-based explorations of scientific concepts and construct their knowledge through child-led and teacher-facilitated activities and experiments. Professors from Auburn University and other local science experts will be invited to visit the lab and extend lessons for Richard Elementary students. Johnson lives in Auburn.

Section High School
Section, AL

"The Xtreme Vehicle Challenge" is a county-wide program developed by Saint to help at-risk high school physics and physical science students rev up their comprehension of the connection between science and everyday life. Scientific principles such as Newton's Laws of Motion: pressure, force, velocity and acceleration are brought to life through the hands-on designing, building and racing of CO2 dragsters, 4-wheel drive monster trucks, solid fuel model rockets and mouse-trap powered cars. Each year, 400 students from eight high schools are taken out of everyday classroom settings and placed in a more creative environment where they are encouraged to apply ingenuity and learn problem-solving skills through this real world, project-based learning program. Saint resides in Section.

Schoenbar Middle School
Ketchikan, AK

The "Schoenbar Student Success" program was created by the Response to Intervention (RTI) team at Schoenbar Middle School. The team consists of Smith, Hewitt, Nausid and O'Brien, a teacher, the principal, the dean of students and a counselor respectively. The team developed the program to provide the entire student body of 300 students with tools and support to be academically successful. It consists of three components: the opportunity for a nutritious breakfast, an organizational system with directed instruction, and after-school homework assistance. Having a nutritious breakfast will help the students start their day off right. For the organizational system, students will receive a notebook, folders, pencil pouch, planner, and flash drive and will learn how to use the system through the S.O.A.R Study Skills model. The homework component includes providing students with a quiet, teacher-supported environment where they can get help with homework at the end of the school day. An increase in organizational skills and test scores, as well as a decrease in behavioral issues and the number of missed and late homework assignments will determine the program's success. The RTI team hopes the program will increase school connectedness and improve the academic environment for students and staff.

Mt. Iliamna Elementary School
Eagle River, AK

Because salmon plays a vital role in the Alaskan economy and lifestyle, Cornwell-George has partnered with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to launch a "Salmon Incubation Project" to provide 20 students with a hands-on education of the life cycle of these fish. Students will research the Alaskan salmon, prepare the appropriate tank environment for salmon eggs, and take a trip to Campbell Creek to catch a spawning pair of salmon, collect 500 eggs and fertilize them. They will be expected to care for the tank, take/record temperature, learn about water quality, and nurture the salmon once they hatch. The project includes a trip to the creek in the fall to collect bugs and plants. Students will determine the health of a river by the type of bugs and plants living there. The project culminates with a trip back to Campbell Creek to release the salmon where they'll someday return to spawn and complete the cycle once again. The students will ultimately be able to explain the life cycle of the Alaskan salmon and how it affects Alaska and their community. Cornwell-George lives in Eagle River.

Highland High School
Gilbert, AZ

Carroll's "Biotechnology in the Classroom" program will involve 21st century technology and concepts to expose students at Highland High School to real-world science and applications. It will be the only dedicated biotechnology program in the Gilbert Public Schools System and the first high school program in the district to really teach 21st century skills to students who are falling behind in math and science. The 150 participating students will extract and sequence DNA and do a transformation lab where they will take a gene out of one species and put it in another species. They will also learn how forensic laboratories function. Students will gain hands-on experience with new technologies using biotech equipment, the DNA electrophoresis chambers, power packs, and pipettes. Carroll will essentially set up a small-scale biotech lab in one location. He hopes the program will help students achieve more, become more, and want more from their education. Carroll lives in Queen Creek.

Skyline Ranch K-8 School
Queen Creek, AZ

Thompson's winning program, "The Skyline Ranch Monsoon Research Station," is a student-run weather center dedicated to the study of a weather phenomenon unique to the Sonoran Desert. With the guidance of science teachers, 300 students at Skyline Ranch K-8 School will gather and analyze weather data to gain a better understanding of monsoon thunderstorms and the effects of urban development on the local climate. Using state-of-the-art technology, the students will identify and catalogue weather conditions before, during and after a thunderstorm and record, analyze, and interpret data from the atmosphere. They will also construct charts and tables on the computer and design and execute experiments. The goals of the project are to ignite a passion for learning within students, provide a hands-on approach to learning in a real world environment, and to cultivate scientific reasoning skills. Thompson hopes that the students will be encouraged to use problem- solving skills to address issues facing their communities and that they will better understand the impact of human activity on nature. Thompson lives in Gilbert.

Copper Trails Elementary School
Goodyear, AZ

The goal of "A World of Difference" is to give first-grade students at Copper Trails Elementary School a historical look at how heritage and ethnicity has helped shape society and the world around us. Through a study of nationalities, Pederson will teach students to recognize and celebrate the different languages, art, dress, food, music, events and literature that gives each of us pride and cause for celebration. Students will be immersed in project-based learning activities integrating subjects across the curriculum, including social studies, reading and writing. Hands-on explorations, presentations from guest speakers, performances by dance groups, works of artists, and research will help them gain an understanding of diversity. Using the Internet, students will also build relationships with other first-grade students in the countries being studied. Through this year-long study, students will learn to understand the world around them by creating maps and learning economic principles such as money, commerce and trade. Pederson lives in Goodyear.

Western Valley Elementary School
Phoenix, AZ

"So You Want to be an Urban Ecologist?" was created by Brotherton for the more than 120 fourth-grade students at Western Valley Elementary School to incorporate technology into the areas of science, social studies and mathematics. Over the years, students have conducted bird protocols on the school's campus and traveled to five different locations in the Phoenix metropolitan area to observe birds that have adapted to living in the Sonoran Desert. Throughout the project, students update their class Web page with observations, anecdotal records, graphic representations and photos from their bird expeditions. With assistance from the ING Unsung Heroes Award, Brotherton plans on empowering students to use the latest in digital technology to create multimedia presentations. By utilizing technology, "So You Want to be an Urban Ecologist?" will provide students with an opportunity to improve their fine motor skills, enhance mathematical thinking, increase creativity and score higher on critical thinking and problem-solving tests. Brotherton lives in Laveen.

eStem Elementary Public Charter School
Little Rock, AR

Felton's winning program, "Astronomer Unleashed," will provide more than 300 second- through fourth-grade students at eStem Elementary Public Charter School with the opportunity to explore the field of astronomy and use current technology to study objects in space. Students will join an astronomy class and begin the project by establishing personal learning goals, selecting the information they need to gather, and determining what areas of the sky to observe. They will then document their findings by using observational notes with drawings, student journals, photographs, learning logs, and notes from guest speakers and interviews. In addition, the students will learn to use lab equipment to document and publish their learning, capture discoveries, and share information with other members of their group. The final publication will be a science journal with information, drawings, and research completed by the students. The goal is to have the information published into a student-created book about space for students. Felton hopes that the program will positively impact the students' ownership of their learning and their attitudes toward school. He lives in Little Rock.

Norman Junior High School
Crossett, AR

As a way to emphasize the interconnectedness of math and science concepts in real-world situations, Todd has proposed the development of the "Science and Math: GO Figure!" program. Math and science teachers will plan projects integrating math, science and data collection technology. Students will use data gathered from temperature, motion and light probes to analyze in both math and science classes. Math students will use the data to construct meaning for math concepts and science students will use the same data to form scientific conclusions. The Science and Math: GO Figure!" program will use real-world examples to provide students an opportunity to practice the math and science knowledge they've acquired in class. The program will also foster greater collaboration between math and science teachers at Norman Junior High School. Todd lives in Crossett.

Crossroads Alternative School
Rogers, AR

"Pack It & Cache It 4 Life" is an innovative high school outdoor adventure fitness youth mentoring program for at-risk teens. Walter provides students with positive opportunities to work through barriers in supportive environments; she hopes they can then transfer those acquired skills to challenging situations in their lives. These adventure activities build confidence in at-risk students who have low self-esteem, motivation issues and false perceptions that "failure is their only option." The program improves student learning by providing immediate and concrete consequences through personal outdoor challenges that are experimental and exciting. Students develop a basic level of competency utilizing outdoor recreational equipment such as setting up tents, searching for hidden items using a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) handheld unit and abiding by the cooking "leave no trace" camping principles. Additional objectives for this project will be to establish social, emotional and physical competencies included in the National Association of Sport and Physical Education standards for high school physical education. The skills learned by students during this project will promote and enhance responsible personal behavior and stimulate options for recreational engagement out of school. Walter is a resident of Bella Vista.

California Academy of Math and Science
Carson, CA

Fisher's "CAMS Inventors, Inc." is a program developed for high school seniors at the California Academy of Math and Science. The student-centered project will take the classroom environment and combine it with the real world as students interact with a variety of individuals, agencies, and institutions to learn and become entrepreneurs. The program is unique because it transcends learning about entrepreneurship and actually has students make real offerings to a consumer market. Participating students will develop a start-up company where they will create a business plan, conduct market research, and develop a professional marketing and advertising campaign for a product or service that has a social value for commercial use. They will present their concepts to venture capitalists and business and financial professionals from the local community in the form of a Business Convention where they will create display booths and make formal presentations. The students will then go out as "Entrepreneur Ambassadors" to teach two-hour classes on entrepreneurship to approximately 70 local elementary and middle school students. Fisher hopes the program will have far reaching effects and will become a positive entrepreneurial influence in the community for years to come. He lives in Laguna Niguel.

John W. North High School
Riverside, CA

"Taking the Sun With You!" is a program developed by Foutz to help students appreciate and understand the power of the sun and the basics of electricity. The 30 participating students from John W. North High School will construct their own "solar backpack," a backpack with a solar panel installed on it that can be used for charging their cell phones, MP3 players, and other electronic devices. The program will use a hands-on, minds-on approach to teach the students about the fundamentals of electricity and solar energy, help students appreciate technology, and give them confidence to study other ways to use solar power for larger projects. As the students carry their backpacks between home and school, the program aims to create curiosity and encourage conversations with hundreds of their peers, teachers, and community members regarding the use of solar energy. Foutz hopes her students will realize that they can make a difference in the world by applying their knowledge to make small and simple changes that can lead to larger ones. Foutz resides in Highland.

Will Rogers Learning Community
Santa Monica, CA

In an effort to infuse academic vocabulary with visual representation, Hamilton-Menjivar's winning program, "Digital Image Vocabulary Enrichment," was developed to push students to expand their vocabulary through the creation of a school-wide digital image database. Teachers at the Will Rogers Learning Community will use teacher-directed instructional strategies to emphasize the importance of vocabulary for 90 fourth-grade students. Students will learn creative ways to represent key academic vocabulary words visually through digital or hand-drawn images. Using digital cameras and scanners, the images generated by the students will be placed on a school-wide server and used by the entire school for creating media projects, presentations, and presenting new material. The program will begin with an introduction to the student "Vocabulary Word Journal." Each student journal will include sections on subjects such as math, reading, writing, science, social studies, art, and technology. Students will keep and sort words that are specific to the respective content area. Hamilton-Menjivar hopes the program will guide students to learn how to make and seek out connections to what they learn in and outside of school. She lives in Inglewood.

Community Magnet Charter School
Los Angeles, CA

"Solarbotics" is the winning program created by Saunders and his colleagues, where teams of third-grade students at the Community Magnet Charter School will build a remote-controlled, battery-powered robot. The 60 "scientists" will convert the robot to run on solar power while gathering data and conducting research to help them compare the environmental, financial, and performance factors of solar power and battery power robots. In addition, participants will learn what it takes to make a robot, the cost of purchasing and disposing of batteries, and how fast one can travel on battery versus solar power. Near the end of the project, the students will have robot races and develop written reports and graphs on their findings. They will also give oral presentations and display their work to the school, parents, and the community. With the funds from ING, these teachers will establish a full robotics program, and the participating students will get more hands-on experience. They hope that "Solarbotics" will teach their students that they can each play a personal role in the transition from conventional to reusable energy, deepen their understanding of robotics and solar energy, and empower them to teach others about the benefits of solar power.

San Marcos High School
Santa Barbara, CA

Laurel High School
Los Alamitos, CA

Over the years, Robert Ostmann has worked relentlessly to keep Laurel High School students in school. His latest creative business ideas just might have what it takes to keep at-risk students in class, as well as preparing them for productive adult lives. His "LifeWorks Studio" program consists of two components: 1) a student-operated small business that contracts with parent groups at other district schools to videotape plays, concerts and other events to produce professional-quality DVDs for the schools to sell as fundraisers and 2) a public-service partnership between students and a regional hospice organization to film and produce "LifeStory" video memoirs of men and women nearing the end of their lives. LifeWorks Studios moves learning outside the conventional classroom model. Running a community-based business gives students a chance to move beyond their limited world of school and friends to connect with the larger community. Interacting across generations and immersing themselves in the life stories of others will give students a unique perspective on the possibilities and challenges that life can throw their way. Over the school year, about 40 students will directly benefit by working in both the small business and the public service components of LifeWorks Studio. The project reinforces the Laurel High staff's commitment to keep their students in school and equip them to become productive citizens and lifelong learners in a technology-driven world. Ostmann resides in Los Alamitos.

Almondale Middle School
Littlerock, CA

Nelson and his five colleagues at Almondale Middle School are looking to foster college-going interest in students who are members of underrepresented populations at institutions of higher learning. Heightened exposure to career choices and universities, especially those that focus on the sciences, technological, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, will be the focus of their 'AVID UnSung Heroes: "The Future is Yours"' program. Students will take a scientifically validated career/personality survey, research careers that match and interest them and be mentored in reaching those educational and professional preferences. Throughout the process, seventh and eight grade students will be exposed to speakers from various local and regional businesses and universities whose career and educational choices match theirs. This real-world exposure will culminate with an eighth-grade research project that focuses primarily on college selection.

Hayden Valley Elementary School
Hayden, CO

Epp's "Classrooms Bridging Continents" project is designed to foster a sense of stewardship and global responsibility in her students at Hayden Valley Elementary School. Last year, Epp's class adopted a kindergarten class on the island of Gizo in the Solomon Islands whose school was destroyed by a tsunami. Since that time the school has been rebuilt; however, it has minimal supplies. Epp and her students now plan to expand the project for the entire school to participate in helping those who are less fortunate. The first-grade students will become the "ambassadors" to present the idea to the school and enlist the support of their fellow students. They will then send supplies and books to the school, including books with photos and drawings of themselves and their own school to provide the village children with a snapshot of what school and life are like in rural northwestern Colorado. Epp, who lives in Hayden, hopes the program will help improve the education for young children with limited resources and encourage leadership, teamwork, empathy, and an overall understanding among her students of the diversity of human lives.

Ridgeview Elementary School
Craig, CO

Samuelson hopes 150 students in kindergarten through second grade to benefit from being part of a structured literacy environment through a program titled, "The Daily Five Alive! Strategies for Literacy Independence". Utilizing the concepts shared on the DVD by authors Gail Boushey and Joan Moser, Samuelson and Ridgeview Elementary School's team of kindergarten through second grade teachers are eager to implement the structured set of tasks designed to help students learn to work independently as readers and writers. The program includes: Read for Self, Read to Someone, Work on Writing, Listening to Reading, and Word Work. According to Samuelson, this program will help students develop the daily habits of reading, writing and working with peers and will lead to a lifetime of independent literacy. It will also result in an improvement in student achievement, both with the district and state assessment tests. Samuelson is a resident of Craig.

Frontier Academy
Greeley, CO

Schreiber's program, "Seeds for Change" is the latest addition to his ongoing effort to engage students in deep and meaningful learning experiences through community projects that use powerful documentaries as a catalyst for social change. The goal of this program is twofold: 1) beautify the facilities of local charitable organizations with landscaping plants raised at Frontier Academy and 2) create a powerful documentary film of all stages of the project. Approximately 85 ninth-grade students and 20 members of Schreiber's Documentary for a Difference (D4D) class will learn the value of community service in a real, hands-on way. While doing so, students will film interviews of participants, fellow students, staff and community members to help show the powerful impact that service work can have on the life of a community. Schreiber lives in Ft. Collins.

Rangeview High School
Aurora, CO

Helping students prepare for the academic rigors of college is what the "Rangeview History Day" project is all about. Willis modeled his Rangeview High School history project after the National History Day program that helps teachers meet educational standards, disseminates high-quality curriculum materials and sponsors challenging contests that teach students the critical skills they need to be effective citizens in the 21st century. Current research on "best practices" in social studies classrooms specifies that students gain more knowledge through "doing" history. This project will provide more than 250 tenth and eleventh-grade students with a curriculum whose objectives are to 1) increase CSAP and ACT scores in reading and writing, 2) provide an opportunity for students to conduct college level research, 3) provide an authentic means of assessment and 4) find opportunities for students to attend college without the need for remediation. The monies awarded by ING will go toward assisting students with research opportunities, travel materials and computers. Willis resides in Aurora.

Plainfield Central School
Plainfield, CT

"Lights, Camera, Documentary!" is a three-part program created by Grant where eighth-grade students at Plainfield Central School will incorporate language arts and social studies to develop and produce a series of motivational and inspiring instructional films, historical skits, and reenactments. First students will develop instructional movies on key lessons in reading and writing which will include techniques such as animation, claymation, video clips, news reports, voiceover lessons, and animated text. All of the movies the students create will be edited on their computers using editing software. During the second part of the program, they will focus more on the films by creating historical skits, reenactments and primary source documents. For the third part, the language arts students will write a series of short film scripts and produce the best scripts from each class. The final goal is to design the films as DVDs for the entire student body, community, and for the film festival. Grant, who lives in Norwich, hopes that through the constant exchange of ideas, the development of quality films, and consistent reading and writing, the students' learning will continue to improve.

Barnard Elementary School
Waterbury, CT

"Cultural Awareness Regarding Ethnicity (CARE)" is a project designed by McCasland and her team members Ieronimo and McKeeman that uses a unique approach to encourage first-grade students to enjoy reading, involve family members in reading, and improve reading proficiency. Approximately 55 students at Barnard Elementary School will have the opportunity to begin developing a home library. Innovative techniques and strategies including having the teachers dress the part of characters and portray roles will be used to promote reading among the students to enhance their reading skills and foster cultural awareness. During the upcoming school term, students will be introduced to five books that involve the awareness of various cultures from countries including China, Ireland, Mexico, the United States and certain African countries. They will learn about the history and traditions of these cultures such as Cinco de Mayo, Flag Day, St. Patrick's Day, Black History, and the Chinese New Year. McCasland and her team members hope that the program will promote a greater awareness of the importance and pleasure of reading, involve parents/family in shared reading, and ultimately help students develop skills for the Connecticut Mastery Test.

Terryville High School
Terryville, CT

The "World War I Memorial Restoration Project" was developed by Nave after visiting Washington, D.C., in 2007. He saw that the World War I Memorial was in need of repair. Upon his return to school that year, he formed a club with his U.S. history students at Terryville High School where they would research the memorial and determine what needed to be done for the restoration efforts. They researched World War I, identified all major people and organizations that would help bring the restoration to fruition and worked with members of Congress to discuss the feasibility to accomplish their goal. They also researched the building of the World War II Memorial, worked with the media to get public support, and networked/partnered with other schools across the country to partner with. During the process they learned of and joined with the efforts of the World War I Memorial Foundation and are currently working with the group. Nave, who lives in Waterbury, hopes that they will continue making restoration advances by the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I in 2014.

Riverside School
Riverside, CT

The pilot "Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Lab Classroom" will employ teaching concepts designed to reach and teach all students in a manner that works for them. Berlinski and Daniels agree that if lessons are designed with the notion of reaching all students, there will not be a need for adaptations and modifications after the fact. "Universal Design for Learning" does that. This research-based framework for developing curricula includes: educational goals, methods, materials and assessments that allow students to gain skills and enthusiasm for learning. This is done by providing support for learning and reducing barriers to the curriculum. An example of this is providing text in a digital format. This allows for many learners to access the text. Students with dyslexia, English as a Second Language (ESL) and vision impairments could have the text read to them. Students with comprehension difficulties could have "thinking prompts" imbedded in the text to stop while they are reading. This upfront planning enhances learning for many. At Riverside School, Berlinski and Daniels will start with a fifth grade class of 25 and begin to spread the concept to the remaining fifth graders.

Lewis Mills High School
Burlington, CT

Jones, a K-12 physical education teacher/health coordinator at Lewis Mills High School, seeks to expand the winter physical education curriculum to include outdoor activities that students can engage in from December to February. The goal of her "Catch the Winter Wellness Bug" program is to improve cardiorespiratory fitness for all students and to promote year-round physical activities that contribute to personal wellness. Students will get their heart rate into the target zone and maintain it while participating in outdoor activities during their physical education classes. They will also learn proper technique for using cross country skis and snowshoes. By providing these activities in an ongoing instructional capacity, students will understand that health and physical activity are continuous throughout the year in warm and cold weather. Jones lives in Burlington.

F.S. Key Elementary School
Washington, DC

Bergantino is shaping motivated, active readers through her "Reaching All Readers" project. Fourth-grade students at F.S. Key Elementary School will have the opportunity to select books that appeal to their individual interests on the appropriate reading level. They will use an MP3 player, preloaded with over 400 children's books, to help improve individual reading skills at a comfortable pace. Students will also be able to listen to the MP3 players while following along with the printed versions of the books. Listening to audio books will increase word recognition and improve vocabulary. The media players will also be loaded with educational songs and performances to assist students. Bergantino, who lives in D.C. hopes the MP3 players will demonstrate the importance of reading aloud to encourage parental involvement at home.

Selbyville Middle School
Selbyville, DE

Heck's winning program, "Teacher Researchers: Helping Students Find Their Math Voice", is part of a five-year professional development project that incorporates action research targeting at-risk math students at Selbyville Middle School. The program involves capturing and analyzing video and audio of instruction and interactions between students and teachers. Heck has had the opportunity to observe academic and social behaviors of students that may have otherwise been overlooked such as the student who turned in an assignment but did not fully understand it and the student who seems to pay attention in class but is really doodling on paper. Her eyes have been opened to many of the errors the students have been making and Heck has gained more insight into how to differentiate their instruction and their assessments. The program has resulted in the desire to spend more time listening to students and probing their thinking which will include interviewing the students about their questioning and solution strategies for problem-based tasks. Heck plans to share this information with her fellow colleagues and hopes they will use the research to integrate and balance proficiency and ultimately guide sustained teaching and learning of math at the middle school level. Heck lives in Dagsboro.

Springer Middle School
Wilmington, DE

Gliniak developed the "Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids (HFHK)" project to teach eighth-grade students how to grow a vegetable garden and how to cook what they've grown. With 800 square feet of raised bed vegetable gardens at Springer Middle School, more than 350 students plant, harvest and taste a variety of vegetables. This hands-on gardening experience not only makes learning more meaningful to students, but it also enhances achievement and comprehension, promoting integration of knowledge across subjects. Gliniak's green thumb program encourages students to eat more vegetables, try new ones, improve their diets and health awareness and become more aware of agricultural and environmental issues. Gliniak plans to also engage his students in expanding the school's composting area and increasing HFHK's ecological emphasis. Students have already demonstrated they will eat vegetables they have grown themselves, including chard, beets, radishes, turnips and arugula. Gliniak resides in New Castle.

Manatee High School
Bradenton, FL

Through Brunner's "Gamble Plantation Historic Park Restoration Project," students at Manatee High School who are enrolled in the Center for Design & Construction (CDC) will partner with the Governor's Advisory Council of the Gamble Plantation Historic State Park to apply classroom skills into a tangible project. Participating students will review recent historical studies and the park's master plan to assist with the historical and overall renovations of the park and mansion located in the park. The first phase of the project will consist of students reviewing documents, visiting the facilities, and interviewing staff and community leaders connected to the park. The students will then begin gathering data and required specifications for the design software to create historically accurate designs for the interior and structural renovations and improvements. They will work in teams to propose their plans to the Advisory Council and park staff. The winning proposal will be chosen and used for the actual renovation. Once the renovations begin, the goal is for students to participate in the hands-on construction and restoration and to be involved in the selection, procurement, and decorating of the mansion's interior. Brunner lives in Palmetto.

Olsen Middle School
Danie Beach, FL

"Animals Around the World - Here's My Habitat" is a multidisciplinary project developed by Currie that incorporates geography, language arts, science, math and reading. Seventh-grade students at Olsen Middle School will explore major biomes located in specific countries and discover how the biomes interact with the environment and affect human actions. Students will be graded on the five parts of the project. In Part 1: Geography - the students will do research to create a map to establish place and location of their assigned biome. In Part 2: Language Arts - students will write an "adventure story" or "autobiography" chronicling facts about the life of their biome from birth. For Parts 3 and 4: Science and Math respectively - students will construct a three-dimensional model of their biome and study their biome's population. In Part 5: Reading - the students will give a presentation on their biome and will be critiqued on their speaking skills. Currie, who lives in Plantation, hopes that this unique project will allow students of all learning abilities to see the ways the various subjects are connected, reducing the fragmentation of learning.

Blountstown Middle School
Blountstown, FL

"Changing the World - One Molecule at a Time" is a biotechnology program created by Romer for the students in her Intensive Science Academy class at Blountstown Middle School. The unique program, which is the only one of its kind in Calhoun County, will provide students with an opportunity to explore fields and activities related to current scientific advances. They will study genetic engineering, commercial biotechnology, and forensic science by transforming bacteria, participating in a simulation and creating a gene clone of a medicinal rainforest plant. In addition, the students will extract their own DNA, separate and visualize DNA fragments at a "crime scene," and employ DNA profiling. The program will not only benefit the 25 students in the class but the resources will also be utilized by more than 100 additional science students. Romer hopes that the program will prepare students to live and compete effectively and prosperously, open their eyes to current events happening around them, learn about the types of scientific jobs available, and inspire them to enter the world of science. Romer lives in Bristol.

Eau Gallie High School
Melbourne, FL

Frey plans to offer a more constructive alternative to handling student discipline cases at Eau Gallie High School. Through her volunteer efforts and those of a group of concerned teachers, the "Learning Alternative Appropriate Behaviors for Life (LAAB)" program will add a social skills learning component to the school's In School Suspension (ISS) program. The LAAB for Life program will enhance student learning by teaching the social skills needed to be successful in a school setting. Life lessons in positive communication, understanding diversity, exemplifying cultural and gender sensitivity, developing positive coping skills and handling conflict resolution will be shared with in school suspension students. Students will learn these much needed life skills through exposure to literature, lectures, role-play, and visual and performing arts. Frey's goal is to create a more positive school environment for students and staff, which is more conducive to overall student learning. Frey lives in Palm Bay.

Giunta Middle School
Riverview, FL

Hosick's "21st Century Literacy" project will provide students and teachers with computer technology to bring them together to create an innovative and exciting new way to approach the Language Arts Curriculum. With "21st Century Literacy", the objective is to create an educational atmosphere in which students use technology to aid in academic advancement. Motivation provided by this project will work to increase reading/academic abilities, student creativity/productivity and excitement to learn while simultaneously enhancing their technological knowledge, which is essential to reach their future goals. Hosick hopes that this 'language arts meets technology' program will excite students and enhance their learning experience. Hosick resides in Riverview.

Forest Hill Elementary
West Palm Beach, FL

Small believes that most students would succeed if they knew how to examine themselves in terms of their habits, self-perception and beliefs. "Character Circle", a program that brings groups of kindergarten through sixth-grade students together, along with their guides, to discuss techniques that will help them to achieve academic success from the inside out. Small's program empowers students to discover the keys to unlocking their greatest academic potential. A guide states the objective and engages the students in discussion that entails vital coping skills that build self-confidence and boost enthusiasm toward learning, culture and life. Guest speakers help students discover that they hold the power to shape their destiny in spite of difficulties. Students will learn that they control whether they get all A's or F's, succeed or fail, or fall victim to being bullied. During each session, students learn to successfully reprogram their habits, self-perception and beliefs and uncover the secrets to becoming a better student and a better person. Small lives in West Palm Beach.

Lakemont Elementary
Winter Park, FL

Webster's "Lakemont Outdoor Classroom Initiative" incorporates "Hands-on–Mind-on" learning activities while promoting responsibility, understanding and respect for natural resources and living things in an outdoor interactive setting. Her project will allow kindergarten through fifth- grade students to develop an awareness of how concepts learned in science, math, language arts and fine arts relate to the real world. The outdoor initiative will partner and collaborate with such organizations as the Eagle Scouts, Whole Foods, Beautify Winter Park, Beautify Orlando and the Lakemont Elementary PTA to create an authentic nature-filled experience for students. Among other stations slated for implementation, students will enjoy a habitat consisting of plants, tress, bat houses and a pond. This project also addresses state and district benchmarks, as well as National and World Standards. Webster lives in Altamonte Springs.

Eau Gallie High School
Melbourne, FL

Frey plans to offer a more constructive alternative to handling student discipline cases at Eau Gallie High School. Through her volunteer efforts and those of a group of concerned teachers, the "Learning Alternative Appropriate Behaviors for Life (LAAB)" program will add a social skills learning component to the school's In School Suspension (ISS) program. The LAAB for Life program will enhance student learning by teaching the social skills needed to be successful in a school setting. Life lessons in positive communication, understanding diversity, exemplifying cultural and gender sensitivity, developing positive coping skills and handling conflict resolution will be shared with in school suspension students. Students will learn these much needed life skills through exposure to literature, lectures, role-play, and visual and performing arts. Frey's goal is to create a more positive school environment for students and staff, which is more conducive to overall student learning. Frey lives in Palm Bay.

Giunta Middle School
Riverview, FL

Hosick's "21st Century Literacy" project will provide students and teachers with computer technology to bring them together to create an innovative and exciting new way to approach the Language Arts Curriculum. With "21st Century Literacy", the objective is to create an educational atmosphere in which students use technology to aid in academic advancement. Motivation provided by this project will work to increase reading/academic abilities, student creativity/productivity and excitement to learn while simultaneously enhancing their technological knowledge, which is essential to reach their future goals. Hosick hopes that this 'language arts meets technology' program will excite students and enhance their learning experience. Hosick resides in Riverview.

Forest Hill Elementary
West Palm Beach, FL

Small believes that most students would succeed if they knew how to examine themselves in terms of their habits, self-perception and beliefs. "Character Circle", a program that brings groups of kindergarten through sixth-grade students together, along with their guides, to discuss techniques that will help them to achieve academic success from the inside out. Small's program empowers students to discover the keys to unlocking their greatest academic potential. A guide states the objective and engages the students in discussion that entails vital coping skills that build self-confidence and boost enthusiasm toward learning, culture and life. Guest speakers help students discover that they hold the power to shape their destiny in spite of difficulties. Students will learn that they control whether they get all A's or F's, succeed or fail, or fall victim to being bullied. During each session, students learn to successfully reprogram their habits, self-perception and beliefs and uncover the secrets to becoming a better student and a better person. Small lives in West Palm Beach.

Lakemont Elementary
Winter Park, FL

Webster's "Lakemont Outdoor Classroom Initiative" incorporates "Hands-on–Mind-on" learning activities while promoting responsibility, understanding and respect for natural resources and living things in an outdoor interactive setting. Her project will allow kindergarten through fifth- grade students to develop an awareness of how concepts learned in science, math, language arts and fine arts relate to the real world. The outdoor initiative will partner and collaborate with such organizations as the Eagle Scouts, Whole Foods, Beautify Winter Park, Beautify Orlando and the Lakemont Elementary PTA to create an authentic nature-filled experience for students. Among other stations slated for implementation, students will enjoy a habitat consisting of plants, tress, bat houses and a pond. This project also addresses state and district benchmarks, as well as National and World Standards. Webster lives in Altamonte Springs.

Monroe Area High School
Monroe, GA

Giacchino and her colleagues, Peacock and Sutton, developed "Genes to Jobs," a biotechnology project that will introduce students at Monroe Area High School to science professionals and allow them to operate equipment used in research laboratories. Students will complete laboratory experiences that represent the major techniques used in the biotechnology industry. Such experiences include conducting DNA fingerprinting with gel electrophoresis and genetically transforming bacteria and purifying proteins through chromatography. The students will also use Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques to test food for genetic modification and participate directly in long-term scientific research by performing genetic sequencing of local plants. This project will provide an academically rigorous and engaging learning opportunity to standard curriculum and expose students to biotechnology careers. The program will benefit approximately 450 students during the upcoming school year. The funds from ING will be used to purchase supplies to carry out the research and to buy durable, high-quality equipment that will benefit the students for years to come. Giacchino, a resident of Bishop, hopes the project will demonstrate to students that science is connected to real-world situations and give interested students an advantage in the biotechnology field. Peacock and Sutton live in Athens and Loganville respectively.

Brookwood High School
Snellville, GA

"Bio-teach-nology" is a unique peer mentoring and staff development program designed by Wetherington that incorporates new technologies and cultivates fresh approaches in science education. For the first time, Brookwood High School will enroll biotechnology students in the 11th and 12th grade in two biotechnology classes to receive advanced training in applicable and modern techniques in the biosciences. The goal of the program is to provide 60 students with materials and training needed for them to leave their own class and teach challenging concepts such as DNA technologies to freshmen in biology classes. In addition, students will take their new-found expertise and provide support for teachers in specific laboratory experiments. Wetherington, who lives in Lilburn, hopes that the program will improve the students' understanding of content areas, prepare them to serve as teaching assistants and peer tutors, and provide innovative training and instructional support to all teachers.

Farrington High School
Honolulu, HI

Ho's digital media classes and media club at Farrington High School are constructing a recording studio for "The Farrington Show." Students will produce, direct, film, and edit shows that explore social issues, culture, historical aspects of schools in the Farrington Complex, and current events. The half-hour special will broadcast monthly on a community television station. It is Ho's objective for "The Farrington Show" to instill school spirit and civic pride in students as they produce shows about their school and community. She also hopes that the project will allow students the opportunity to gain experience using industry equipment and interact professionally with others through interview skills. The ultimate goal for the project is to broadcast daily and convert shows to podcasts that will be available online to share with a greater audience. Ho resides in Honolulu.

Weiser High School
Weiser, ID

At Weiser High School, Chavez will be instructing students to create a three-phased project entitled "Remembrance Camp" that depicts the Holocaust. The first phase will be transforming classrooms into learning stations to illustrate Hitler's rise to power, propaganda against the Jews, Kristallnacht, and the ghettos. The next phase is to have the gymnasium simulate a concentration camp including constructed walls with razor wire around the top. Visitors will view the exhibit riding a cattle car through a gate with the Nazi concentration camp slogan, "Arbeit Macht Frei," imprinted on it to see living conditions at camps. The final phase will be a survivor testimony where a Holocaust survivor will share his/her memories and answer questions. The camp will allow students to visually experience the monumental effects of discrimination, hatred, and genocide. Chavez, who resides in Weiser, wants to offer the school a powerful lesson to emphasize the importance of future generations not repeating or allowing such an atrocity to occur again.

Vision Charter School
Caldwell, ID

Students at Vision Charter School will be introduced to something new when they return to school this fall. "The Eagle's Eye", a bimonthly, digital student news magazine will feature school happenings, individual classroom and student spotlights, student versions of "man-on-the-street" sound bites and 30-second-spot commercials about character traits such as honesty, integrity and respect. Wafwa's multimedia project will also capture scientific experiments, reenacted pieces of literature, social studies projects, field trips and dignitary visits. Students will work in cooperative groups so that each member can assume a production role. They will update the content and apprise the student body for school-related news twice a month. The goal of "The Eagle's Eye" is to promote creativity, news reporting, collaboration and the use of multimedia technology. Wafwa resides in Nampa.

Nicholson Specialty School
Chicago, IL

Sanks and her two colleagues Drake and Robinson, have developed the "Nicholson's Math/Game Week" to reinforce mathematical and technological skills. The project will promote strategic thinking and parental involvement among Nicholson Specialty School students. Students will apply problem-solving skills to create exciting games to advance mathematical skills. Games will be graded on originality, project design, presentation, and academic content. Parents will be invited to attend a family game night to play math games created by students. This project will be especially geared to empower special education students and those struggling in mathematics. Students will also film videos to demonstrate how to play the games. Videos will be uploaded to Nicholson Specialty School's Web site.

Jacqueline Vaughn Occupational High School
Chicago, IL

Bonness and Murray are planning to expand their school's garden program with the "Real Science, Real Food" project. Jacqueline Vaughn Occupational High School specializes in preparing its special education students for independence. "Real Science, Real Food" integrates science and culinary arts by introducing preparation and preservation techniques for produce grown in the school's garden, greenhouse, and hydroponics lab. Students will learn how to make delicious and healthy foods such as bread, pesto, and herb vinaigrette. Seniors will be responsible for marketing and selling goods at school events and on the Web site. The goal of the project is to foster self-reliance and social development in students who are quickly approaching graduation. The project may even spark interest in students to pursue employment in the production and marketing of food. Bonness and Murray are residents of Chicago.

Washington School
Evanston, IL

"Digital Literacy" is a project-based program developed by Erf that will integrate reading ability and familiarity with technology into the teaching curriculum to advance the reading fluency and comprehension of fourth-grade Washington School students identified as performing below grade level expectations. During a daily reader's workshop, students will rehearse appropriately challenging theater scripts, discuss the material to ensure understanding and clarify the author's intent. Final performances will be recorded using digital video cameras, and burned to DVD by the students. The technology used in "Digital Literacy" will heighten students' motivation to improve their reading ability in preparation for their performances. Erf's program will target and benefit at-risk students who read slowly or inefficiently or are experiencing frustrations with learning. By using mixed-ability groupings, students are not made to feel singled out and all who participate will find it to be a fun, learning environment. Erf resides in Skokie.

Saugnash Elementary
Chicago, IL

"Digital Storytelling" is a program being led by Lundak and his six colleagues. They have created a cross-curricular Language Arts and Media Technology experience for 150 middle school students at Sauganash Elementary school in Chicago. Their program provides students with an opportunity to write narrative stories full of symbolism and imagery that is brought to life by combining images downloaded from digital, video and Web site photos with narration, music and sound bytes to create digital stories. Although the project will address several Illinois Language Arts and Technology standards, it will also appeal to the "digital generation" and will help them develop writing skills using tone, mood and voice with verbal, visual and auditory features. The high-engagement factor of this program will ensure improvement in writing skills for these sixth through eighth-grade students.

Columbia Central School
Steger, IL

Through Melnyczenko's "Reality Store" program, eighth-grade students at Columbia Central School will learn basic skills in financial and career planning, goal setting and decision-making. By simulating real-world experiences such as exploring occupational opportunities, receiving a monthly income and keeping a checkbook register, students will examine their attitudes about their financial future and their career expectations. To support this hands-on initiative, MeInyczenko will create a Reality Store staffed with volunteer students, parents, community members and local business owners to sell everything from insurance to real estate. From time to time the students will also spring the occasional unexpected event on participants. They will then write a first-person narrative essay describing their consumer and career decisions. MeInyczenko hopes to someday be able to offer scholarships to students who demonstrate exemplary learning through the project. MeInyczenko resides in Cedar Lake.

St. John the Evangelist School
St. John, IN

Each year, St. John the Evangelist School explores a different world culture through an interdisciplinary project. "Egypt Unwrapped" is the selected project for the 2009-2010 school year. Cerwinske plans to integrate Ancient Egypt in all academic subjects for students in third through sixth grades to continuously investigate and learn about Egypt. Students will play Egyptian games, build pyramids, write using hieroglyphics, and even make ancient Egyptian instruments. Research will be conducted to gather information and develop presentations on the traditions, beliefs, and customs of Egyptians. A visit is scheduled to the "Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs" exhibit at the Children's Museum in Indianapolis. Lastly, the school will hold an Egyptian Fair for students to share projects, games, and food with parents and community members. Cerwinske resides in St. John.

NorthWood Middle School
Wakarosa, IN

The "Aim High with Rocketry" project involves sixth-grade astronomy students at NorthWood Middle School designing, assembling, testing and launching rockets. Bennett's project provides students with hands-on learning activities that teach the inspection, disassembling and reassembling of mechanical devices, including technology essential to reaching outer space. Students will use models to illustrate processes that happen too slowly, too quickly, too small a scale to observe directly or are potentially dangerous. They will also explore the differences and similarities in sizes, compositions and surface features of planets in the solar system as well as objects orbiting them. Students are encouraged to work on various aspects of the project at home with parents. Bennet is a resident of Goshen.

Barker Middle School
Michigan, IN

Hamann plans to use the ING grant funds to purchase laptops to help teach eighth-grade students the value of energy conservation. Her program, "Conservation Smarts Using Technology" will facilitate online research to gather information on energy conservation, including strategies and solutions for daily life. Hamann hopes that the discovery of eye-opening findings about different energy sources and uses, and ways of conserving energy and available natural resources will help students become stewards of their communities and the Earth. After researching this valuable information, students will make others aware of energy conservation issues and Earth-friendly strategies through school and community presentations that cover the importance of energy conservation. This project will give students the positive tools needed to help them make better decisions about energy conservation each day. Hamann is a resident of Michigan City.

Kesling Middle School
La Porte, IN

Dearing and his four colleagues developed the 13-week problem-based curriculum "Mysteries of Kesling Middle School" program to increase science, math, social studies and language arts achievement as students search for answers in a treasure hunt. Each lesson will take place in one of Epcot Center's 11 accurately-depicted countries, where teachers will act as virtual tour guides by filming stories to be shown to students each week on interactive whiteboards. After viewing each story, students will work in teams to conduct science labs, decipher codes and solve mathematical equations in order to solve clues that open a treasure box. By creating this hands-on treasure hunt, the team hopes to facilitate the development of critical thinking skills and student reasoning.

Manning Community School
Manning, IA

"Community.com" is the newest project of Petersen's third-grade class at Manning Community School. The focus of the project will be for students to design a Web site based on the Manning community. Students will research the history and early settlement of Manning's first residents. The class will execute a number of research methods to gather a well-rounded perception of the community. Such methods include interviewing, taking field trips, scanning newspaper articles, and reading history books. Students will learn the importance of government by visiting the city hall to speak with the mayor and council members. Students will also travel to the fire station to learn about volunteer firefighters and visit the police station to learn about community safety. The "Community.com" project will introduce students to positive role models and develop social skills. Petersen is a resident of Manning.

Dowling Catholic High School
West Des Moines, IA

Lensing wants to develop an "Outdoor Classroom" equipped with a prairie to enhance the research opportunities of his environmental science classes where students can conduct ecological comparative studies between the prairie and the forest thereby creating a human altered landscape. Students would use field techniques, global positioning system (GPS) and satellite map data to create a Geographic Information System (GIS) for the research area. The main objective of the project is to restore a prairie on school grounds and continually increase its diversity each year by having students grow an assortment of plants. Students will also use cutting-edge environmental technology to monitor the progress of the prairie. Lensing believes an outdoor classroom will increase local biodiversity and provide a beautiful, natural space for students, teachers and the community to enjoy. This classroom will also raise awareness of conservation issues and help educate the public about conservation and restoration projects in Iowa. Lensing lives in West Des Moines.

Gardner Edgerton High School
Gardner, KS

The "Bach-n-Roll" mobile music workstation is a project designed by Easley and Burd to advance range of ability skills of students at Gardner-Edgerton High School. The interactive musical experience will engage students through singing, keyboard instructions, and musical composition. While improving musical skills, "Bach-n-Roll" will assist students' reading and math development, along with historical research and social skills. Students will receive immediate feedback after completing an assessment. General education and special education classrooms will have access to "Bach-n-Roll" including students not participating in traditional music programs due to social anxiety, communication deficiency, or being unable to perform musically at a high school level. Easley resides in Olathe and Burd lives in Gardner.

Wichita Public Schools
Wichita, KS

"Aces in the Community" is a student-driven project developed by Jones to improve the community. Jones will offer students a chance to positively impact their community through a hands-on experience. A theme will be introduced to the class and teams of students will conduct research to connect a community need with the classroom theme. Each team will draft and present a multimedia proposal suggesting a community service event to address the need in the community. The classroom will vote on and implement the winning plan. Jones, who lives in Cheney, will encourage students to reach out to parents and community members for information and assistance to improve the community.

Spring Hill High School
Spring Hill, KS

Environmental science students at Spring Hill High School will design and construct a series of six raised-bed flower gardens with built-in irrigation systems during the "Water Conservation and Raised Bed Gardening" project. Strohschein developed the program for the students to plant six gardens: a tulip garden, two butterfly gardens, a native Kansas plants garden, a cut-flower garden, and a perennial garden. Students will learn specifics about water conservation and erosion protection techniques, along with the importance and benefits of rain barrels in the community. This hands-on project will provide students interested in landscaping and horticulture with career experience. Students may volunteer to maintain gardens over the summer. Once the gardens are ready for observation, other classrooms may utilize them for various projects and enjoy the beautiful area for outdoor lessons. Strohschein, who lives in Edwardsville, would eventually like to add trees, walking paths, park benches, and a water feature to enhance the area.

Gardner Edgerton High School
Gardner, KS

Through Abromeit's "Creating the Perfect Candidate; Political Parties and Elections" program, twelfth-grade students at Gardner Edgerton High School will work together in groups of five to create their own unique and original political party, party platform and fictional presidential candidate. Students with similar beliefs will form new political parties, conduct opinion polls within the community, determine important issues to be included in their platform and then construct their "perfect candidate" Wiki site, including background information on their presidential and vice presidential candidates. Selected members from the community and school faculty will join parents in viewing the completed student Web pages. Then, they'll vote for their preferred presidential candidate using an online survey program. This program will improve student learning by requiring them to apply knowledge of the U.S. political process. Students will gather information from a variety of sources, synthesize the information and develop an original product. Abromeit resides in Lawrence.

Gardner Elementary School
Gardner, KS

The "21st Century Reading: Everyone Exceeding Expectations" project will involve students in kindergarten through fourth grade at Gardner Elementary School. Utilizing a MP3 player and a Language Audio Card Reader, Thies will help students improve their reading comprehension and fluency. Through this program, students will read stories, record them on the computer and download them onto a MP3 player to take home so they can work on their reading skills with a parent. The Language Audio Card Reader, which benefits the growing population of English learning students, allows students to "scan" cards that, in turn, repeats their words. Thies plans to have a card reader at each student's home to help them learn new sight words and vocabulary. With its focus on improving reading comprehension and reading fluency, this access to technology will create a more educated school population which then extends to the whole community.

Derby High School
Derby, KS

Woods' "Cadet Teaching" program dispatches a 15-member Cadet Corp of third and fourth-year high school French students to as many as nine elementary schools to teach elementary conversational French to elementary school students in their district. This research-based process provides real-life practice to advanced language high school students to utilize their knowledge of foreign language. Cadet students create and organize flash cards, posters, games, songs, nursery rhymes and other elementary realia to aid in their teaching process. Students also plan lessons and schedule class time as part of their own language learning process. The "Cadet Teaching" project is not merely a "program" with an ending, but it is an intense teaching process with academic excellence in foreign language as its goal. For the elementary student, the Cadet Program is both exciting and motivational. For the high school participant, the program helps them strive for accuracy in their French communication skills. Woods is a resident of Mulvane.

Bethany Christian School
Baker, LA

"Waste Not-Want Not" is a recycling program developed by Hodges to encourage Bethany Christian School to save natural resources and reduce waste. Fourth and fifth-grade students will manage a school-wide initiative to increase the amount of materials recycled. Students will create an online interactive newsletter to encourage parents and community members to adopt recycling practices at home. They will also research environment-friendly and recyclable alternatives to replace wasteful and environmentally harmful products used throughout the school. Lastly, online lessons will help students apply scientific reasoning to understand how recycling can eliminate air pollution. The "Waste Not-Want Not" project is designed to build strategic problem-solving skills and emphasize the importance of environmental stewardship. Hodges resides in Baker.

Beau Chene High School
Breaux Bridge, LA

Loreauville High School
Loreauville, LA

The goal of Lavergne's project is to educate students on the daily food recommendations to become healthy teens, teach healthy cooking methods and portions and provide an opportunity for students to showcase local culinary arts of the Louisiana region. Her program "Tasty Treats for Teens" helps students evaluate favorite desserts, side dishes and snack foods to decide how to make "healthier" versions of them. Healthier recipes for these munchies will be presented to the student body in a taste test. The approved food will be compiled in a cookbook for distribution to other students and high schools in the area. Lavergne notes that there are "a lot of health programs out there for the obese child or unfit adult, but teens seem to fall through the cracks." Her project, which will use the USDA's Food Pyramid Web site to calculate the daily requirements that teens need to keep their bodies healthy will address this issue. Lavergne is a resident of Lafayette.

Slidell High
Slidell, LA

The "Tradition Touching Today" project is an idea that Wiebelt, a broadcasting teacher at Slidell High, developed to document the commemoration of 100 years of the school's history. The ING award will allow the communications academy students to acquire video and digital cameras, computer equipment and production resources needed to capture the happenings that will be part of media press kits, yearbook content and marketing projects. Students will conduct in-depth research to show how life has changed over the years. It will be conveyed through pictures, interviews and written stories. Oral histories dating back to the 1930s will be captured in documentaries for students and community members to view. Highlights will include clothing, cars, entertainment, major events and life at Slidell High from each period. The goal for Wielbelt's project is to inform the student body of changes that have occurred over the past 100 years within the school and the community. Wiebelt lives in Slidell.