Giving something ‘Extra’ to teachers, students

WARREN — During the 2021-2022 school year, Chatterton Middle School teacher Lyle Dixon started a Video Game Club designed to promote communication skills, sportsmanship and teamwork.

He created the club for sixth, seventh and eighth grade students to connect with each other when returning to school in Fitzgerald Public Schools after the COVID-19 pandemic. Students have participated during lunchtime, after school and in a popular elective class that was piloted last year.

Dixon was among several educators, administrators and support staff who received a grant this year from Extra Credit Union. The recipients — including Dixon who received $2,000 — wrote their grants last fall and received their funds in January. Recipients have to be a member of the credit union to receive a grant or award.

ECU representatives recognized the educators and also several students who earned scholarships during its annual Excellence Awards Luncheon held June 17 at the main office on Chicago Road. ECU also has a branch in Washington Township.

Several honorees were in attendance while others couldn’t attend due to other commitments. Lacey Cornell and Ashley Fordyce, ECU’s school and community relations coordinators, facilitated the ceremony.

 

Other educators who received grants included:

• Stacie Smith-Duenow: Carleton Middle School in Sterling Heights, $1,500 to purchase materials needed for 3D art and ceramics.

• Kathryn VanGorder and Bessie Tasios: Fitzgerald High School in Warren, $440 for a field trip activity.

• Kimberly Winiarski: Tau Beta School in Hamtramck, $1,000 to help fund their snowboard outreach program.

• Erika Gadoury: Willow Woods Elementary School in Sterling Heights, $750 to help fund school assemblies at the school that help build student character.

• Mindy Harchuk: Endeavor Elementary School in Ray Township, $800 to purchase flexible seating for fifth graders.

• Ann Clark, Marge Racine and Gina Asaro: Warren Consolidated Schools Blessings in a Backpack program, $500 to purchase two carts to help transport food on packing days.

• Annette Lauria: St. Anne Catholic Grade School/Junior High, $500 to get signs and materials as well as student rewards to kick off their Positive Behavior Interventions & Support Program.

• Carolyn Short and Madilyn Wasikowski: Memphis Elementary School, $1,200 to fund items needed to create Engaging Workspaces for third graders.

• Marlana Jones and Brandy Rokicki: Barnes Early Childhood Center in Grosse Pointe Woods, $1,318 to start a therapy dog program.

Therapy dogs are known to help students reduce stress and increase positive emotions. After undergoing training, Rokicki’s dog is a certified therapy dog.

“He’ll be starting in the fall at Barnes Early Childhood Center. He passed all of his assessments. We brought him in on one of our last days of school on Thursday when there were no kids in the building to start acclimating,” said Jones, who was present at the luncheon. “It was just really exciting to see all the joy he was starting to spread and the positivity throughout that school environment.”

The plan is to continue the program within the Grosse Pointe Public School System.

Winiarski, who also attended the luncheon, said Tau Beta is a kindergarten through eighth grade school, and the snowboard outreach program was for the middle school students.

“The students went snowboarding or skiing. They built mentorships and they strengthened their relationships with staff and with classmates,” Winiarski said. “They also had opportunities to discuss careers regarding outdoors. It was a wonderful experience. We look forward to continuing those opportunities for our children who normally would not have them, so thank you.”

 

This school year, five 2024 high school graduates received Richard J. Spence scholarships. The scholarship program was named after Spence, a former CEO who established the ECU’s school programs. The recipients were:

• Jacob Meershaert, of Armada High School, received $2,000 to study nursing at Northern or Western Michigan University.

• Izabella Medley, of Almont High School, received $1,000 to study early education at Saginaw Valley University.

• Nathan Halstead, of Lutheran High School Northwest, received $1,000 to pursue pre-medical/bioengineering at Hope College.

• Mackenzie Jones, of Warren Woods Tower High School, received $500 to study illustration at Macomb Community College.

• Katleyn Bailey, of Sterling Heights High School, received $500 to pursue public relations and advertising at Grand Valley State University.

 

The following five continuing education scholarship $1,000 winners also were honored:

•  Vanessa Studans, University of Michigan. Desired occupation: software engineer.

• Zoe Haynes, Central Michigan University. Desired occupation: mental health and substance youth counseling.

• Matthew Senechal, University of South Florida. Desired occupation: certified financial planner.

• Eric Kausch, University of Arkansas. Desired occupation: educational leader.

• Ryan Glant, Central Michigan University. Desired occupation: IT/broadcast cinema.

The continuing education scholarships are awarded to teens or adults who have completed high school and who are either in college or trade school, who have taken a break from college/trade school and are heading back, or who may be starting their post-secondary education later on in life.