Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation

CUSF was a charitable partner with the 2010 Busey Illinois Youth Run, a race in conjunction with the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon. CUSF worked actively to promote the race in local schools with the goal of doubling the number of participants. 980 kids ran this year up from 579 last year. And, 386 kids age 18 and younger ran the Provena Illinois 5K.

Exercise plays a big role in academic success and overall health. We are proud that so many of our kids participated. Their involvement also benefits local public education because $1 of every Youth Run entry fee will be donated back to CUSF. The Foundation works every day to promote excellence in education in C-U public schools.

Edison Middle School teachers Bryan Foli and Gary Pinkerton believe “that by actively connecting historical knowledge content with science lab experiences and content, students will improve in participation, enthusiasm, understanding and achievement.” They were awarded a CUSF Master Grant to implement a unit studying Thomas Edison, Nicola Tesla and the science of electricity. Students will learn about the history of agreat advance in the science of electricity and then go right into the science lab and conduct the related experiments. Foli and Pinkerton will research the effectiveness of this interdisciplinary approach and plan to publish their findings in action research journals. The grant was partially funded by the CUSF CarleFoundation Hospital Endowment for Educational Excellence.

Susan Gleason, an Urbana High School art teacher, will purchase five Apple iPads and 2 Apple Mac computer stations for the AP Studio Art classes. The new technology will enhance an already existing cultureof collaboration and self-directed learning by allowing the students to conceptualize, refine, research anddiscuss their artwork right at their fingertips with the iPads. The iPad with its many editing applications andart databases will become as integral a part of the art-making process as colored pencils and paintbrushes.

Jefferson Middle School teacher Amos Lee is ecstatic that he will be able to create the first-of-its-kind onlinecourse that allows students to learn math at their appropriate level of readiness through a one-on-one environment. The classroom will be outfitted with enough computers and N-Computing devices to allow 30 students to access the online course management system: Moodle. Differentiated curriculum as well as assessments will be developed by Jefferson staff to meet the needs of all math students regardless of their level. This grant has been partially funded by the CUSF Champaign Rotary Endowment for Educational Excellence.

CUSF awarded three additional Master Grants this year:

1. Grant Thomas, Bottenfield Elementary School, “Making Visual Narratives”
2. Karinsa Moline, South Side Elementary School, “Fabulous Folktales Across the Arts” Fully funded by the CUSF Junior League of Champaign-Urbana Endowment for Educational Excellence
3. Richard Geiger, Urbana High School, “Interactive Learning: UHS Science” Partially funded by the CUSF Junior League of Champaign-Urbana Endowment for Educational Excellence

Each year, through a vigorous application process, CUSF awards Master Grants of up to $4,000 to Unit 4 and Unit 116 teachers to fund classroom initiatives. Grants are awarded based on demonstrated need, innovation, impact and quality of implementation planning. CUSF awarded 6 Master Grants for a total of $16,701 to be implemented in the 2010-2011 school year.

CUSF also awards Splash Grant awards of up to $500 to teachers to purchase classroom materials or items to enrich classroom learning. From 2008-2010 CUSF awarded nearly $320,000 in Splash and Master Grants. In the 2010-2011 school year CUSF will award approximately $140,000 in Splash and Master Grants.

CUSF is an independent, non-profit community supported foundation committed to encouraging educational initiatives and facilitating excellence in education in the public schools of Champaign-Urbana. For moreinformation about CUSF visit www.CUSchoolsFoundation.org or call 217-398-2873

Our Champaign-Urbana public schools have graduated many exemplary individuals and on Friday, April 30,2010, the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation will celebrate the accomplishments of two extraordinaryalumni at its 6 th Annual Distinguished Alumni Luncheon. Dr. Scott Anderson, Champaign Central High Schoolgraduate, class of 1977 and Stephen Van Arsdell, Urbana High School graduate, class of 1968 will behonored this year.

Dr. Scott Anderson’s commitment to Champaign’s public schools and his pro-bono dental work in thecommunity and volunteer work in Malawi is impressive. He served as a Unit 4 school board member for 12years, serving as President for 5 of those years. He participated in the One-to-One Mentoring Program for 6years. Dr. Anderson provides pro-bono dental services to the Donated Dental Services Program, ChampaignCounty Health Care Consumer’s Dental Referral Program, Smile Healthy, Unit 4 school district low-incomestudents, Champaign Terrace Group Home, and the Center for Women in Transition. His three children areCentennial High School graduates. Dr. Anderson graduated Magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University withhis B.S. in Chemistry and with honors from the University of Chicago – School of Dentistry with a DDS. Hehas been a dentist in private practice in Champaign since 1985.

Steve Van Arsdell is Deputy Chief Executive Officer with Deloitte, LLP, one of the world's leadingproviders of accounting and consulting services. A graduate of Urbana High School, Steve earned bothhis Bachelor's and Master's degrees at the University of Illinois and a Doctor of Medicine degree fromNorthwestern University’s College of Medicine. He currently serves on the Business Advisory Council ofthe University of Illinois' College of Business and is also a member of that College's Alumni Board ofDirectors. Van Arsdell has been active in The Conservation Foundation for twenty years and has servedon the Board of Trustees for more than fifteen years, and as Chair of the Board for five years. Steve hasalso served on the boards of the Illinois Cancer Council, Literacy Volunteers of American-Illinois, and theNational Kidney Foundation of Illinois. He has served as an officer of each of these organizations. Steveand his wife, Liz, live in Naperville and have six children.

Distinguished Alumni honorees are nominated by fellow professionals, friends, family, or local citizens, mustbe graduated from a Unit 4 or Unit 116 public high school for at least 10 years and demonstrate distinguishedcontributions to our society.

The Distinguished Alumni Luncheon will be on Friday, April 30, 2010, at the IHotel and Conference Center,Champaign and is open to the public with advance ticket purchase. For tickets or additional information visit: www.CUSchoolsFoundation.org or call 217-398-2873. Proceeds from ticket sales support the mission of CUSF.

Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation’s Splash Grants have flooded Champaign Urbana public school classrooms with $280,000, funding 618 projects over two school years. The majority of the grants have funded technology items such as Smart boards, document cameras and wireless slates, allowing teachers to engage their students through more interactive means. Grants have also funded many other things such as books, classroom supplies, field trips and educational games.

Jefferson Middle School science teacher Jennifer White purchased Snap Circuits educational kits allowing groups of students to create their own circuits in a lab setting in order to understand the concept of electricity. This Splash Grant will impact 240 students per year. At Centennial High School Jeanne St. Peter will purchase DNA manipulation kits, so biology and biotechnology students will have access to hands-on activities in order to understand recombinant DNA technology. 500 students will be served through this grant. Westview Elementary teacher Emily Svendsen is implementing a Multicultural Game Project. English as a Second Language students will create how-to videos on how to play the games and the games will be available in all of the classrooms for indoor recess activities. 400 students will benefit.

Prairie Elementary teacher Angela Wyatt plans to purchase 25 pairs of tap shoes to add to their existing inventory. All first grade students study tap dance as part of the physical education curriculum. At Urbana Middle School, Jason Pound is looking forward to utilizing Smartpens with 120 students. Students will be able to write, draw, and solve math problems on a special paper, and then import their work quickly onto a computer for sharing. The pens will even record their process and play it back as a video. Three Leal Elementary School teachers are partnering to bring a field trip to their school’s gym. The Dome Theater is a mobile planetarium that offers a broad range of subject areas that brings the excitement of science to the audience. 390 students will benefit.

The creative ideas are impressive. Teachers are bringing ancient civilization back to life, helping students to participate in decision-making throughout US history and providing students the opportunity to create and perform original music. They are funding science nights, kindergarten light tables as well as games and puzzles. Most importantly, all of these ideas are impacting the quality of education our kids receive in the public schools. Prairie Elementary teacher, Patti Murray wrote, “I don’t know if you will ever know the incredible impact you are having at the classroom level.” Central High School teacher Veronica Thompson shared, “You have no idea how much this truly helps in the classroom to expedite technology assignments.”

CUSF’s Splash Grant program is a convenient on-line grant program. Grants of up to $500 are awarded to Unit 4 and Unit 116 teachers to enrich classroom learning. Five local business leaders came together to support this unique program in 2008. Donations for Splash Grants are led by the Fox Development Corporation, The Atkins Group, JSM Management, Jimmy Johns, Inc. and Flex-N-Gate. These five businesses have donated more than $225,000 to this program.

CUSF is an independent, non-profit community supported foundation committed to encouraging educational initiatives and facilitating excellence in education in the public schools of Champaign-Urbana. For more information about CUSF visit www.CUSchoolsFoundation.org or call 217-398-2837.