Texas Cultural Trust Awards $25,000 in Grants to Bridge the Gap Between Fine Arts Education and Technological Instruction

by Texas Cultural Trust

“The Trust’s own research shows that students who are enrolled in the arts have up to 15 percent higher pass rates on standardized tests and are half as likely to drop out, said Heidi Marquez Smith, Executive Director of the Texas Cultural Trust.  “The arts keep students engaged, encouraged, and most importantly, in school.  ADL uses the arts as a medium to teach technology, which in turn provides students with integrated, relevant skills that will prepare them for a the 21st century workplace.”

Congratulations to the 2017-2018 Classroom Technology Grant Recipients:  

Elisa De La Rosa, MacArthur Ninth Grade School, Aldine, $3,500

John Reimund, Vidal M. Treviño School of Communications & Fine Arts, Laredo, $3,500

Carrie Johnson, Universal Academy Charter School, Irving, $2,500

Laura Castañeda, Raul Yzaguirre School for Success, Houston, $2,500

Brian Cheslik, Texas School for the Deaf, Austin, $2,000

Mirriam Leanne Blackwell, Canyon High School, New Braunfels, $2,500

Hugo Nuñez, Coronado High School, El Paso, $2,500

Maria Miller, Weslaco East High School, Weslaco, $2,000

Brittany Skillern, Westwood High School, Round Rock, $1,500

Jeanne Stewart, Westwood High School, Round Rock, $1,500

Jenna Stephenson, Canyon High School, New Braunfels, $1,500

The Classroom Technology Grants are generously funded by Texas Women for the Arts, a private giving circle of the Texas Cultural Trust that supports arts and arts education programs across the state.  The Arts & Digital Literacy initiative was developed in partnership with The University of Texas at Austin College of Fine Arts.