The Follansbee Chamber of Commerce is continuing its tradition of encouraging education in Brooke County.
Last week, the chamber awarded a series of grants to assist special projects pursued by area educators who are going above and beyond in their efforts to better prepare their students for the future.
The grants, for $300 each, were made possible through various fundraisers and proceeds from the chamber's annual dinner, and were awarded to Tom Bane, an engineering instructor at Brooke High, and his students Jerri Wilson and Maddie DeGarmo; Angela Durig, of Brooke Primary North; Kate Johnson, from Brooke Intermediate North; and Ashleigh Gurskey, of Brooke Intermediate North.
Each have projects in mind to guide their students, including the production of keychains using a laser engraver, support for a positive behavior program, items to reinforce reading skills, and aids to encourage creativity and critical thinking.
In today's world, it has become increasingly important to find ways to creatively guide the minds of our youth in anticipation of the types of jobs and opportunities they might have later in their lives. Anything done in support of such efforts is to be appreciated.
We applaud the Follansbee Chamber, including President Eric Fithyan and Education Committee members Suzanne Davidson, Kelly Hunter, Sandy Kemp, Carolyn Matteson and Carmel Esposito for their continuing efforts to make this happen.