STCU awards classroom grants

Ten teachers in the Columbia Basin received $150 classroom grants as part of STCU’s efforts to welcome educators back to school, including two at Lake Roosevelt Schools.

The not-for-profit credit union, which was founded by teachers, is honoring its roots by awarding the grants to 134 educators — a total of $20,100 to winners drawn at random. Winners can spend their $150 grant on anything that will enhance students’ classroom experience, whether a basic need or something special.

Local winners, who were notified this week, are:

Grand Coulee Dam School District

Kate Stevenson, Lake Roosevelt Elementary School

Gretchen Whitelaw, Lake Roosevelt Jr./Sr. High School

Almira Coulee-Hartline Cooperative

Sarah Sample, Almira Elementary and Middle School

Brewster School District

Abbie Gebbers and Natalie Lemons, Brewster Elementary School

Omak School District

Sandi Hastin, East Omak Elementary School

Diana Luca, North Omak Elementary School

Othello School District

Lauren Rathbone, Katy Schutte and Gayle Valdivia, Hiawatha Elementary School.

The online drawing was open to teachers, counselors, and similar classroom-based positions at public and private districts served by Washington ESDs 101, 123 and 171, or in the eight northernmost counties of Idaho.

It is the eighth year that STCU has offered the grant drawings, which have been greatly expanded in recent years to include more recipients.