Voting Opens for SELCO Community Credit Union’s Classroom Makeovers: Up to $45,000 in Awards Available

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on November 8, 2024

Online voting began Nov. 1 for SELCO Community Credit Union’s inaugural Regional Classroom Makeover program, which will award three educators as much as $15,000 each to fund substantial classroom improvements. SELCO is inviting Oregonians to cast a vote of a different kind – for their favorite classroom makeover project among nine finalists.

The online public vote will decide three winning educators for a Regional Classroom Makeover – one each from Central and Eastern Oregon, Northwest Oregon, and Southwest Oregon.

The public voting process is open through Thursday, Nov. 14 at selco.org/vote. Voters are limited to one vote among the finalists in their local region.

The Classroom Makeover program is part of the SELCO Steps Up initiative that launched earlier this year. One of the key goals for SELCO Steps Up is to introduce new programs in response to the changing needs of the community. One such need was additional financial support for educators, who often dip into their pockets each school year to make even modest classroom improvements. For this program, SELCO defined “Classroom” as any school learning space, including traditional classrooms, libraries, gymnasiums, and outdoor spaces.

The response from educators underscored this need, with applications arriving from across the state for a wide array of project ideas.

“It’s been exciting to see such high-quality, diverse applications in the program’s inaugural year,” said Olivia Sorensen, Senior Community Development Specialist for SELCO. “We believe that accessible, inclusive, and inspiring learning spaces are essential to student success – and these projects hit the mark.”

The nine finalists chosen by the SELCO Steps Up selection committee include:

From Central/Eastern Oregon:

• Caldera High School, Bend: Finish the build-out and expansion of a Makerspace, including storage solutions, compressed air tie-in modifications, quality tools, and equipment to work on bikes. Submitted by Gavin Meyers.
• Buckingham Elementary School, Bend: Create an inclusive classroom environment that enhances learning and makes every student feel valued. Submitted by Emily Phillips.
• Trinity Lutheran School, Bend: Creating a “science room” that fosters hands-on learning with microscopes, stethoscopes, storage, and more. Submitted by Alisa Jeffries.

From Northwest Oregon:

• Roseway Heights Middle School, Portland: Transform a former basement storage space into a welcoming environment for English Language Development students. Submitted by Kim Stave.
• Mt. Angel Middle School, Mt. Angel: Transforming the library into a vibrant, cozy hub where students can explore, learn, and thrive with diverse resources and inviting spaces. Submitted by Jeff Taylor.
• Jefferson Elementary School, Jefferson: Transform a music classroom, adding seats, risers, and performing stages for everyday learning and special performances. Submitted by Kevin Lake.

From Southwest Oregon:

• Butte Falls Charter School, Butte Falls: Transforming an older space into a Makerspace, with modern classroom necessities, including insulation, an HVAC unit, and electrical services. Submitted by Ben DeCarlow.
• Yujin Gakuen Elementary School, Eugene: Restoring an outdoor learning space for hands-on lessons in sustainability, food cultivation, and immersion in Japanese culture. Submitted by Mariko Maddock.
• Prairie Mountain School, Eugene: Creating an inclusive playground with many types of accessible play equipment for every child. Submitted by Amanda Zacharek.

“We look forward to continuing this tradition of supporting transformative classroom experiences for educators and students,” said Sorensen. “We’re hopeful these initial projects will inspire even more educators to bring forward their ideas in future years.”

Posted in Across the Region, Community Impact, Oregon.