In 2021, to celebrate the firm’s 45th anniversary, with decades of experience in K-12 design, this initiative reflects the firm’s commitment to supporting the educational community. The grant is rooted in their core values of Creative Solutions and Proven Service.
Each year, the firm awards multiple grants to innovative K-12 educators whose bold, out-of-the-box proposals—big or small—tackle classroom challenges and spark creativity. These grants help bring meaningful ideas to life, supporting students’ growth and success throughout the school year.
Grant materials may be used in a single classroom, across grade levels, school-wide, or district-wide. Funds, however, may not be used for food or wages. Eligible applicants must be teachers in South Dakota or within 100 miles of Sioux Falls or Rapid City.
This year, 66 applications were received from across the state, many of which were outstanding, making the selection process quite difficult. The following teachers have been selected as this year’s grant recipients:
- Travis Santistevan - Hill City School District
- Hands-On Precision: CNC Technology in CTE Classrooms
- Travis' grant, Hands-On Precision: CNC Technology in CTE Classrooms, aims to integrate a CNC router machine into his CTE program to provide students with real-world, skills-based learning experiences. This technology will allow students to blend traditional finish carpentry and construction skills with modern manufacturing tools.
- Steve Erickson - Elkton School District
- Elkton High School Manufacturing/Ag Business Class
- Steve's grant focuses on incorporating 3D printers into the district’s Manufacturing and Agricultural Business classes. This project will provide students hands-on experience with modern design and production technology, bridging classroom learning with real-world applications.
- Brady Duxbury - Wessington Springs School District
- Syrup in Springs
- Brady's grant aims to equip the agriculture department with the tools needed to harvest, process, and bottle maple syrup. With many maple trees in the area, students will have the opportunity to collect sap and produce syrup firsthand. This hands-on experience will give them valuable real-world skills and a deeper understanding of the agricultural opportunities around them—benefitting both the agriculture program and the Wessington Springs FFA Chapter.
- Jenn Breidenbach - Sioux Falls School District
- Ozobot Fun
- Jenn's grant will provide Ozobot robots and magnetic kits for K-5 students at Laura Wilder Elementary. Students will learn programming and coding through a hands-on approach with the use of these hand-held robots.
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