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SALINEVILLE - A donation by Williams Energy will benefit students at Southern Local High School.
Company representative Rich Sloan, who is also a longtime coach at the high school, announced a $2,500 allocation during the March 12 school board meeting and the funds were divided to feed students in afterschool programs and supply Kristin Hepner's math classroom for an upcoming project.
"I've secured a grant for Mrs. Hepner's class and Coach Wright," said Sloan. "Mrs. Hepner can use it in her class and Coach can use it to buy snacks or if a teacher needs it. [Williams officials] were hoping to support the community and look for a good way to give back to the school."
Principal Rich Wright, who is also the school's varsity football coach, said funds could help feed students participating in after-school programs.
"We'll use it for our after-school program for clubs and athletes and students who stay for tutoring," said Wright. "There is big participation in the spring because of baseball, track and softball and clubs do a lot of activities, and with upcoming testing we have after-school tutoring."
He added that the number of students vary each day but averages between 80 to 100 kids. Nutrition Inc., the district food service provider, also gives meals while parents donate snacks. Wright said the Williams grant will also supplement those services and thanked Sloan and company officials for their generosity.
"Rich Sloan is a good friend of mine and coaches with me. It was really nice to think of us as a local school," he commented.
Hepner, who instructs 76 eighth- and ninth-graders, said her two Algebra classes plus gifted and IEP students will take part in projects.
"I'm using it for my algebra classes," she said. "Part of it is going to be used for a catapult project and students will be doing math for a launch. [Sloan] said, 'I thought you could use it since you do fun things in class.' We'll also get math manipulatives and do another project."
Hepner had planned to make miniature catapults, but now students may build bigger models. The funding will defray costs for supplies and construction will get underway after state assessments are complete.
"It was a nice surprise," she said. "The students are learning about it now and will work on the catapults after the testing."