Cascade Community Credit Union Awards More Than $30,000 to 81 Douglas County Educators

Cascade Community Credit Union has awarded more than $30,000 in Chalkboard Grants to 81 Douglas County educators, helping pay for classroom projects, supplies and learning experiences.

The program provides grants of up to $500. At Roseburg High School, three educators are combining their funding to give students a closer look at pieces of the solar system.

Physics and astronomy educators Shalena Lewis, Krystal Corum and Devin Bowen collaborated on the History of the Solar System Inquiry Lab, a project that will allow students to examine real meteorites and investigate how they formed.

Students will work at laboratory stations equipped with magnets, balances, magnification tools and polarized microscopy. Working in teams, they will study the specimens’ properties, collect evidence and develop explanations about their origins and the processes that shaped the solar system.

According to the credit union, the project is expected to reach more than 500 students each year. The materials will also be available for future classes.

“Investing in our educators is an investment in the future of Douglas County,” said Cascade Community Credit Union CEO Lynn Ager.

The Chalkboard Grant program helps educators cover expenses that may be difficult to fund through regular school budgets. The Roseburg High School project is one example of how teachers are using the awards to bring hands-on activities into their classrooms.

More information about the credit union and its community programs is available at cascadecu.org.