History of NHSEF
The
Foundation was started in the fall of 1994, with 9 directors.
During that first year, 1994-1995, the Foundation awarded $450, which
all went to staff development. In the 1995-1996 school year,
awards totaled $1,783. In May of 1996, the Board of Directors
expanded to thirteen. Each “class” had four Directors
with terms of three years. The 13th Director was a member of
administration or staff appointed by the Principal each year. The
next year, 1996-1997, the Foundation’s awards jumped to
$2,680. In 1997-1998, another $2,658 was awarded.During the 1998-1999 school year, the Foundation awarded nearly $15,000----$7,190 in mini-grants and $7,684 to 3 major grants.
In the 1999-2000 year we awarded over $4,300 in mini-grants. The Humphrey Endowment was awarded to Nancy Lee for her grant—“Non Euclidian Geometry in the Classroom”. This grant was for $556. We also awarded three Major Grants totaling $10,152. An additional Humphrey Endowment was awarded in May of 2000, to the Biology Department to purchase new microscopes. This amount totaled $900. The total for the 1999-2000 year was just under $16,000. An additional $101,940 was given through the Foundation during 1999-2000 for the construction of the weight room.
The Board of Directors was again expanded in the 1999-2000 School Year, to be comprised of sixteen directors. Each “class” has five directors who serve three year terms, and a student director whose term is one year.
During the 2000-2001 School Year, nearly $16,000 was awarded including $7,396 in mini-grants. Additionally, two more endowments were created: the Asmuth Family Endowment, and the Burden Family Endowment.
The 2001-2002 School Year awards totaled over $30,000 in six major grants and twenty-four mini-grants. The Board also decided to create a one-time scholarship for a senior, to be awarded annually. The “Founding Director’s Scholarship” is in the amount of $1,000.
Seven Major Grants, twenty mini-grants, one fellowship, and one scholarship brought the total awards for 2002-2003 to over $23,000.
The 2003-2004 school year saw the approval of fourteen mini-grants, five major grants, seven fellowships, one department award (Eli Buzas Excellence in Education award), and for the third year, a scholarship to a NHS senior. The total for the year was $25,170.
In the 2004-2005 school year we awarded twenty-five mini-grants, nine major grants, seven fellowships, a department award, and for the first time we will award two scholarships to graduating seniors. The Niwot Optimist Club Community Service Scholarship will be given in the amount of $500. Total gifts to the Niwot High School community for the year are in excess of $28,000.
During the 2005-2006 school year, the Foundation awarded nineteen mini-grants, four major grants, eight fellowships, a department award, and two graduating senior scholarship awards. Gifts to Niwot High School exceeded $19,000.00.
As the 2006-2007 school year comes to a close, the Foundation will award twenty four mini grants, five major grants, two special grants, the Eli Buzas Excellence in Education Departmental Award, and nine fellowships. In addition to the existing two graduating senior scholarships, the Founding Directors’ Scholarship and the Niwot Optimist Club Community Service Scholarship, a third scholarship was added this year for a total of $2,500 for the three college-bound senior awards.
In September 2006, the NHSEF Board of Directors voted unanimously to initiate the Tech.Knowledge project. This is a comprehensive approach to addressing the continued and escalating needs for technology hardware, software, training and support at Niwot High School. The Foundation, in partnership with St. Vrain Valley School district, local industry, and institutions of higher education, has developed a three to five year Tech.Knowledge Blueprint that will enable the staff and students at Niwot High School to benefit from advanced instructional opportunities through technology. The estimated project cost for the first year is approximately $84,000, including hardware, software, training and steady state maintenance, with installation being completed for the opening of this coming school year.
Total funding commitments in 2006-2007 exceed $110,000.00, including major grants, mini-grants, fellowships, scholarships, departmental and special awards, as well as the Tech.Knowledge project.
Some of the Mini-Grants awarded in 2007 - 2008:
Philosophy and Psychology Supplemental Books
U.S. Government Classes Field Trip to the State Capital
Le Maladie Imaginaire Bilingual Play Field Trip for French
Stock Market Challenge Field Trip for Economics
A Cappella Choral Arrangements for Choir
Physics of Forces Bridge Building Materials for Science
An Experience in Kimono for Japanese Language Students
Guest Artist Series for Choir
Major Grants Funded include:
“I See the Light” Presentation Projector for Math
Laptop Computers and Date Video Projector for Social Studies
Portable Rechargeable Speaker System for Music
Laptop Computers for World Languages
Special Grants awarded during the 2007 -2008 school year :
National Orchestra Cup Competition, Lincoln Center, NYC Funding
Outdoor Volleyball System for Physical Education
Not including the donations through the Foundation for the weight room, over $290,000 has been given to Niwot High School since our inception in 1994.
As our endowments and donations continue to grow, so will the programs we will support.