Summit County schools have received a total of $215,850 over the past five years as a result of these two programs provided by Summit Education Initiative (SEI).

Celebrate the Stars: Partners in Education honors and celebrates 11 exceptional Summit County community partnerships involving schools, students, volunteers, businesses, parents and teachers. Local educational, individual and community leaders comprised the team of judges who reviewed the submissions. SEI will award more than $21,000 to schools in Summit County as a result of the grants. The program is funded through Summit County businesses and organizations.

IMPACT II awards grants to teachers who submit original, creative and successful curriculum projects that can be easily adapted in other area classrooms. IMPACT II is an affiliate of Teachers Network, a national non-profit organization and professional community of educators working to improve student achievement. Summit County teachers judge the grant submissions to determine the winners. SEI will issue more than $8,000 to the recipients of the 2004 IMPACT II awards.

"Schools cannot do it alone," says Dennis Buzzelli, associate director of Summit Education Initiative. "In order for our children to be successful they need support and guidance at home—in their classrooms at school and in the community. Partnerships between schools, businesses and organizations can bring the best of social and academic resources to support the diverse learning styles and needs of children. These awards demonstrate the rich learning environment that can be created when communities come together to support the success of all children."

The grant recipients will be recognized at the annual Celebrate the Stars awards gala on March 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Family Center in Akron. Cost to attend is $35 per person. Reservations must be made to SEI by Feb. 27, 2004. Prior to the dinner, from 4:00 to 5:30pm, will be a free showcase of this year’s IMPACT II programs, presented by the teachers. More information is available by calling Summit Education Initiative at (330) 535-8833.

Summit Education Initiative was created in July 1996 by a group of business, foundation and community leaders. Its mission is to engage and mobilize, in an innovative manner, a broad base of people and resources to significantly improve schooling and learning for all children in Summit County. For more information, visit www.seisummit.org

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Business/Community Organization Stars

• Akron After School Program (Akron)
• Akron Council on World Affairs (Akron and Cuyahoga Falls)
• Honorable Mention: Green Middle School PTSA (Green)

Teacher Stars

• Kimberlee A. Martin, Academy at Robinson (Akron)
• Honorable Mention: Fifth Grade Teachers, East Woods Elementary (Hudson)

Parent/Guardian Stars

• Liz Eaves, Rick Buchanan and Robbie Williams, Portage Path School of Technology (Akron)
• Honorable Mention: Christine Moore, Cottage Grove Elementary (Coventry)

Individual Community Volunteer Stars

• Ellen Mell, PATHS Place (Akron)
• Honorable Mention: John Reyes, Green High School (Green)

Student Stars

• Jeffrey M. Dezso, Copley High School (Copley-Fairlawn)
• Honorable Mention: Bridget M. Bogdewiecz, Archbishop Hoban High School (Akron)

IMPACT II Recipients

• Faith I. Andrus, Green High School
  Doorways to Islamic Art
• Patricia A. Close, Judith P. Mikes and Judy A. Newhall, Fishcreek Elementary
  Passport to Learning About World Cultures
• Joyce Conway, Tallmadge High School
  You'll Find Linear Models in the Most Unusual Places
• Brenda DeLeo and Lisa Nicholson, East Woods Elementary School
  We've Got the Math Curse
• Kathy Devus, Essex School
  Building Our Future
• Karen Grindall, Portage Path School of Technology

Walk in My Shoes

• Joann Hamrick and Lauri Ropchock, Cottage Grove School
  Waves of Information
• Judith L. Harrison, Firestone High School
  Poetry In Motion--An Interdisciplinary Approach to Writing Poetry
• Patricia O'Neil, St. Paul’s School
  St. Paul Drama Club
• Amy Owens-Hartman, Springfield High School
  Problem Based Learning (PBL) for Children's Hospital
• Marcia Skidmore, Miller South School for the Visual & Performing Arts
  1-2-3-4, I Declare a Junkyard War
• Eric Van Raepenbusch, Coventry High School
  A Day in the Life of Coventry Township
• Laine Vereecken, Old Trail School
  Friday Performance
• Amy Wilson, Marti Edgerly and Leslie Smith: O.H. Somers Elementary School
  Start Your Engines!!!
• Kay E. Zink, Sam Salem Elementary
  Cooks for Books