RENY Announces Winners of Newly Established Annual Hudson-Kramer Memorial Grant

The Northern Zone awarded the 2017 RENY Hudson-Kramer Memorial Grant to Mr. Samuel Sochia, who resides in Gouverneur, N.Y. and teaches Physics, Robotics, and a STEM Exploration class at Gouverneur High School in the Gouverneur Central School District. He will use the grant funds to purchase Raspberry PI computer units for use in his STEM Exploration class to help teach basic computer science using the Python language and emphasizing engineering curriculum and design, as well as, hands-on technology. Linda Crosby, NZ P.R./Grant Chair, Agnes Hudson, NZ Friendly Services Chair/RENY President Emerita/*CR and Roxann Finley, NZ Treasurer, presented the award to Sam at a Gouverneur H.S. end of the year luncheon on June 22. We were especially pleased to have Agnes with us because the grant is given in her husbandʼs(Ross C. Hudson) memory. Many thanks go to grant committee members Tom Cook, Jean Theobald and Joanne Lahtinen for their valued involvement.

Central Western Zone Grant Chair/Co-President Sandra Kushner announced that the recipient of the 2017 RENY Hudson-Kramer Memorial Grant is Mrs. Kyle Inda, who teaches at Naples Elementary School in the Naples Central School District. A large group of teachers, students and community members will use the grant to assist in converting a courtyard at the school into an outdoor learning area and garden space including classroom areas, raised garden beds, pollinator gardens and spaces for art. The project will provide lasting and far reaching curricular opportunities for the project lead teacher to develop specific lessons and project based learning plans. Specifically, the grant will fund the purchase of a shade sail over the classroom area. President Kushner thanked her grant committee members: Jane Behnk, Joan Irwin, and Betty Pilato; she extended special thanks to Ann Czajkowski for providing the list of schools and addresses for the 10 county zone.

Ron Czapla, Western Zone Grant Committee Chair, reported that Mrs. Nancy Simmons, a fourth grade teacher at Newfane Elementary in the Newfane Central School District, is the 2017 RENY Hudson-Kramer Memorial Grant recipient. Nancy will use the funds for an exciting field trip for 100 fourth grade students who will visit three Niagara County historic sites including a pioneer farm(a former stop on the Underground Railroad), Newfaneʼs first brick house(now on the National Register of Historic Places), and a fully restored 1861 one-room schoolhouse. Fourth grade instruction in New York State history will be greatly enhanced by the tour of the sites. Ron Czapla, with grant committee members Charles Peszynski and Stanley Nowak, proudly presented the grant check to Nancy at her schoolʼs faculty year-end luncheon on June 22. Theresa Clarke and Irine Zinter also provided much appreciated assistance on the WZ teacher grant committee in their very successful search for a worthy recipient.

The Northeastern Zone RENY Hudson-Kramer Memorial Grant Committee/P.R. Chair Marti Martin and her committee members, Marilyn Smith and Nancy Olsen, were very pleased to present the 2017 grant to Mr. Aaron Brassard, who teaches Middle School and High School Technology at Moriah Central School District in Port Henry, N.Y. Aaron will purchase a 700 watt renewable energy kit which contains two solar panels and a small wind turbine; these components will power a school buildingʼs exterior spotlight that will illuminate an area near a sports field in the dark fall and winter months. Marti Martin said she and Bonnie Gregware, NEZ President, awarded the $1,000 check and a congratulatory letter to Aaron at a special luncheon NEZ held in his honor. Marti stated that congratulatory letters were sent to Aaronʼs high school principal and superintendent; she said thank you letters were sent to all the other applicants, their supervisors, their superintendents, and, also, to the BOCES superintendent who provided valuable assistance in disseminating the grant materials to area schools.