The trustees of the Tonkawa Education Foundation are proud and excited to announce that grants totaling more than $12,000 were awarded to the educators of the students of Tonkawa public schools last week. Of the grants awarded, forty-eight applications were submitted by 25 teachers for projects ranging from $1,100 to $25 for items such as a telescope for science, a microphone and portable speaker system for presentations and public speaking, rubber air bags to measure lung capacity and teach breathing skills for band students, and mirrors to assist kindergarteners with word pronunciation skills. TEF also funded the recent visit of Author Alton Carter to the elementary, middle and high schools. These items are all for projects that enhance education in our schools, which go above and beyond what our district has the funding to provide. TEF was formed as an endowment fund in 2000 with the balance growing to over $550,000 since that time. We have awarded a total of 404 grants to date totaling more than $132,000. It is with great pride that we thank our Tonkawa educators for submitting requests for these funds that help stimulate these young minds, and we look forward to new and exciting projects for years to come.