JACKSON COUNTY – Jackson County students are one step closer to relaunching weather balloons thanks to an Insuring Success Grant to Jackson County Middle School Teacher Michael Vigeant.
“Without partners like Swallows, I couldn’t do this,” Vigeant said. “This stuff is expensive. The cameras that I need, the helium itself, the trackers especially are all very expensive. Without community partners, you can’t do it. Every school needs community partners.”
Vigeant received a $500 grant to purchase a Satellite Tracker for the students’ scientific experiments. The grant is the first awarded by Swallows Insurance and Lite Rock 95.9 to local teachers.
“We are so happy to be able to help these teachers who are training the next generation,” Kelly Swallows, Vice President of Operations for Swallows Insurance, said. “It is so amazing hearing these teachers’ stories and to see how it will help students.”
The grant program gives local teachers the chance to request funds to assist with ideas they would like to pursue, creative strategies for teaching or for equipment and resources the school system cannot provide.
“In many cases, teachers are doing this out of their own pocket,” Swallows said. “We’ve teamed up with Lite Rock 95.9 to take that burden away.”
Teachers in any field at schools across the Upper Cumberland can apply for the grants. Applications take just a few minutes and are available at LiteRock959.Com. Both classroom teachers and those in specialty fields can apply.
Vigeant said he is looking forward to getting the balloons back in the air for Jackson County students.
