During
this season for giving, Windham Middle School has been chosen as the recipient
of a grant given by Exxon Mobil. Each year $500 is earmarked to help schools
enrich their programs, particularly targeted for science and math. Sue Jones, manager
of Mr. Mikes located at 670 Roosevelt Trail was on hand Wednesday to present
middle school principal Drew Patin with the check.
These grants are part of several
available to schools across the country served by Exxon or Mobil stations
through the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance program. It is designed to provide
these retailers an opportunity to invest in the future of their communities
through educational grants to neighborhood schools.
“Mobil
has been doing this for years and years and years. We were fortunate enough a
few years ago to get one for Manchester School. Two years ago we had one for
this school and here we have another one for this school,” explained Jones who
has nominated seven out of the eight years since being with Mr. Mikes. Two
years ago Windham Middle School was the recipient.
With
this grant Patin is exercising the option to use the funds elsewhere. “This
time it is going toward the after school programs. We want to keep kids busy
after school, offering them a variety of activities so there is a niche for
everybody and promote the arts and sciences more, also sports and theater which
are big here. These things would be more hands on for the kids,” shared Patin.
The process is rather simple.”I
nominate schools in my area and Exxon Mobile makes the decision which areas are
awarded. If my area is chosen that’s where it begins. They like the schools to
target math and science but it can be used anyway they want,” Jones said. This
year Jones’ familiarity with the middle school through her granddaughter’s
attendance was the reason it was chosen. “We try to hit other schools to mix it
up a little bit. We will probably target the high school as a possibility next
year,” she continued.
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