Education Foundation Buys Computers for School

Les Cheneaux Islands Association President Mike Mahoney (left) presents a check representing a $911 donation to Lisa Dunn of the Les Cheneaux Education Foundation, during the association's August 28 meeting at Les Cheneaux Community Library in Cedarville. The donation was raised through a raffle at the Islands Association's August 7 annual meeting and banquet, where the Education Foundation presented a "musical revue" celebrating 20 years of summer musical performances. Each year, the Islands Association selects a charitable cause or organization to receive the proceeds from its raffle. In addition to producing summer musicals, the Education Foundation provides scholarships to local students, provides financial assistance for school trips, and purchases tools and supplies to enhance students' education at Les Cheneaux Community Schools. (Photograph by Amy Polk)

The Les Cheneaux Education Foundation purchased 14 new computers and installed them in the Les Cheneaux Community Schools library at Cedarville, it announced in August. The donation was the result of a fundraising effort spearheaded by Tony Autore and Phil Milan.

The need for updated technology was first brought to the Education Foundation board's attention through a grant application submitted by Gretchen Storey, a teacher in the district, who said students were missing out on teaching tools currently available, owing to the school's aging technology. The board chose to expand the scope of the request to include the replacement of all the computers in the school's library.

"The Education Foundation is proud to have played a small part in raising public awareness to the need for updated technology at the school, and so very grateful to the generous donors who made the computer purchase possible," trustee Lisa Dunn said.

The Les Cheneaux Education Foundation supports a wide variety of educational and cultural programs for the students, teachers, and residents of the Les Cheneaux area, including the Summer Theater Program. Last year, the Education Foundation awarded more than $20,000 in grants. Projects supported included the Elementary School Yearbook written, photographed, and illustrated by elementary stu- dents. More than 200 students were treated with tickets to cultural events purchased by the Education Foundation last year, including trips to the Sault Symphony production of "Peter and the Wolf" and the Chicago production of "Wicked." The Education Foundation also provided support for the Humanities Class trip to Chicago last spring, as well as the purchase of textbooks for the class. Support was also given to the school's music program, and an overnight field trip to the Whitefish Point Shipwreck Museum for the fourth grade.

The Education Foundation awarded two scholarships to Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp last year, and chose 2007 seniors Carissa and MacKenzie Sudol and Amy Winberg to receive John Trefry Memorial Scholarships. The Education Foundation has also pledged funds to be used for a field trip for 18 high school students to the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony in Washington, D.C., this coming January.