PHOTO PROVIDED Featured speaker at the annual Cherry and White Appreciation Night, Dr. Adolph Brown, top, used humor to speak to the crowd of educators at the event. Brown told the group, “The best intervention we have to date in education is collective teacher efficacy. When we’re all rowing the boat together we know we make a difference.”

With the goal of funding “innovative, collaborative projects,” the Williamsport Area School District announced the launch of a $40,000 grant opportunity through the district’s education foundation.

The announcement was made by the foundation’s president Dr. Brooke Beiter at the annual Cherry and White Appreciation night, where three distinguished alumni were also honored.

The Founder’s Grant for Educational Excellence, which is open to district educators, includes $20,000 from the Williamsport Area School District Education Foundation (WSDEF) which will be matched by the district for a total of $40,000.

“This grant that we have talked about, that Brooke just showed you, is really just the next step for our school district,” said Superintendent Dr. Timothy S. Bowers.

“We are going into what we call an innovation phase…We want people to look at the Williamsport school district as ‘wow, they’re doing that in a public school in Williamsport, Pennsylvania?’ Well, yes we are and you can come and see it,” Bowers said.

The grant, Beiter said, “focuses on fostering creativity and collaboration across departments, grade levels and schools.”

“Programs in the areas of technology, stem, entrepreneurship, career development and community engagement will help shape the future of education,” Beiter said.

According to information from the foundation, the grant funding will enable educators to develop a collaborative project or program that aligns with the missions of both organizations. It’s designed to support innovative and creative programs that enhance the educational, cultural and athletic opportunities across the district.

Grant funding will run between September 2025 and August 2027. Applicants must either plan to conclude their project by Aug. 31, 2027 or develop a sustainability plan for continuation after the grant period, the foundation’s information stated. The winner will be announced at next year’s Cherry and White Appreciation Night.

“We can’t wait to see what innovative ideas our educators bring forward,” Beiter said.

Distinguished alumni honored at the meeting included Frances Tipton Hunter, a 1914 graduate, who received the Achievement Award posthumously for her career as an illustrator for national publications in the 1920’s and 1930’s.

Amy Resh, chief executive officer and director of the James V. Library, who accepted the award on behalf of Hunter, noted that the majority of Hunter’s work was donated to the library, the Lycoming County Historical Society and the Williamsport Home.

“Her thoughtful gift made sure that future generations could enjoy her work,” Resh said.

The Distinguished Alumni Humanitarian Award this year went to 1967 graduate John Maietta.

Maietta, who was not present at the event, was honored for his career in both military service and professional communication.

After retiring from the military, having served over 38 years in various capacities within the Army Reserve, Army National Guard and active Army, Maietta earned a master’s degree in applied history, delivering more than 700 presentations on a wide range of historical and cultural topics throughout the area as well as serving the community through his support of various cultural and healthcare organizations,

Joe Person, class of 1988, also received a Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award.

Person, who was a starting tight end on the 1986 Williamsport Area High School Eastern Conference championship team and the team’s top receiver, continued his football career at the College of William & Mary. After graduating from college, Person has spent his career as a sports writer.

Person shared that his first “journalistic experience” was at Cochran school.

“We had what was essentially a newsletter,” Person said.

“We interviewed kids about recess and lunch and this newspaper was printed on mimeograph machines,” he said.

He reminisced about the teachers he had during his educational journey such as Mr. Good and Mrs. Huddy, who encouraged him in his writing, although, he said, they really wanted him to write something other than his favorite subject-sports.

During his opening remarks, Greg Hayes, the foundation’s executive director, reported that last year the foundation provided more than $170,000 in grant support to district programs which benefited thousands of students.

“For the first time, our scholarship distribution reached a six figure level, with more than $105,000 awarded to graduating seniors,” Hayes said.

“Additionally we received nearly $231,000 in contributions from more than 350 generous donors,” he added.

Over the past five years, Hayes said, the foundation granted over $1.1 million to programs and scholarships, while adding $1.3 million in donations. The foundation currently has a worth of $2.7 million.

“These numbers represent a driving force that brought to life programs, expanded access or created opportunities and they represent your colleagues vision for enhanced learning experiences and passion for the work that you do,” Hayes told the room filled with educators.