The Okmulgee Education Foundation (OEF) surprised educators across Okmulgee Public Schools during its annual Award Day last Wednesday, delivering classroom grant notifications in person and celebrating innovative projects that will directly benefit local students.

This year’s awards spanned the Primary campus, Dunbar Intermediate, Okmulgee High School and cross-campus initiatives, with teachers proposing hands-on learning, literacy boosts, field experiences and student wellness supports. Below is the full list of teachers and their funded grant titles by site.

-Primary School

• Mercedes Holcombe – 3D Cardboard Project

• Candi Padfield – Reaching The Stars

• Jessica King – Headphones PLEASE!

• Taylor Neal – Hands On, Minds On: a 3D Learning Initiative

• Destiny Followill – 4th Grade OKC Blue Field Trip Experience

• Earl Heck – Right Sized Hoops for Bright Futures

• Dawn Wallace – Open a Book, Open a Door

• Laura Rodriquez – Pebble Go

• April Sullivan – Center Spruce Up

• Melissa Mehloff – 3rd Grade OKC Blue Field Trip Experience — Dunbar Intermediate

• Heath Miller – Musical Instrument Repair — Okmulgee High School

• Mark Stone – Microecosystems

• Nikki Potts – Okmulgee Culinary

• Kylie Hushbeck – Establishing a Modern School Newsroom — Cross-Campus (Dunbar & OHS)

• Brittni Stewert – Identifying the Future of Agriculture • Tissa Carter – HOPE Squad – From new literacy tools and science explorations to journalism, agriculture, music, and wellness initiatives, the selected projects reflect OEF’s mission to enhance learning opportunities for every student. Congratulations to all the recipients, and thank you to the donors and partners who make these classroom ideas a reality for Okmulgee kids.