News
Housed in the Portland State University Department of Geography, the Oregon Geographic Alliance (OGA), in its continuing effort to enhance geographic education in grades K-12, has allocated its first round of awards from a $70,000 grant received from the Oregon Community Foundation, John D. and Elizabeth N. Gray Endowment.
The grants were awarded to:
- Dixie Seibel and Meghan Ross, from Duniway Middle School, McMinnville, for a Family Geography night, $1000;
- Jennifer Wheatley, from Cannon Beach Elementary School, Cannon Beach, for development of a classroom library of non-fiction geography related books and DVDs, $970;
- Donna Davidson, from Gregory Heights Middle School, Portland, for geography books, $500;
- Judy Lowery, from Western Oregon University, for travel to the National Council of Geographic Education annual meeting, $500;
- June Satak, from West Albany High School, Albany, for travel to the National Council of Geographic Education annual meeting, $500;
- Christopher Highfield, from Luckiamute Valley Charter School, Monmouth, for GPS/GIS field kits for use in grades 5-8, $425;
- Sandra Kraft, from Lewis and Clark School, St. Helens, for a US wall map, $385.
Along with awarding grants to help improve geographic awareness, the OGA helps promote National Geography Week, issuing an educational supplement in The Oregonian and hosts the annual Summer Geography Institute at places around the world for teachers in Oregon. The proposed 2006 Summer Institute will be held in Botswana.
Oregon Community Foundation
Established in 1973 by community leaders who saw the need for a common investment and grant management vehicle for private charitable gifts, the Oregon Community Foundation is a statewide nonprofit organization that administers permanent charitable funds established through gifts and bequests from individuals, families, businesses and other organizations.
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For Immediate Release (#05-160)
Source:Carolyn Perry (503-725-5864)
Department of Geography
