 The event was to celebrate the presentation of a $25,000 grant from
State Farm to the school.State Farm Insurance agents Chris Coyne,
Tracy Olson and Deron Powell, and representatives of Rick Hamm's
office, Katie Young and Justin Cheger, were on hand to present the
check to Mr. Dugan.
The event began with the superintendent welcoming everyone to the
assembly. He thanked State Farm for the grant program that provided
the money for school technology. He also recognized board of
education members who had taken time from their day to be at the
celebration.
He then addressed the students, telling them that he understood
fully that they were excited about the new technology products the
school would be getting. He mentioned iPads, laptops and Smartboards
that would be purchased for use in the classroom. He told the
students that some of the new equipment has already been ordered and
should arrive at the school on Thursday.
"I can't wait to start playing with these," he said. "Just
remember, these things are not substitutes for teachers. What they
will do is help make good teachers, great teachers."
Dugan finished by saying: "I'd like to thank everyone again for
coming. Thanks to State Farm. Thank you all for all you've done and
continue to do for our kids on a daily basis."
Karen Davison of the New Holland-Middletown Supports Education
group was the next person to speak. She talked about her attendance
at the school, her father's attendance, and now her grandchildren
attend.
"My new mantra is ‘Yikes!" she said, adding that in the past
three months there have been so many "Yikes" times for her.
Davison explained that as a member of Facebook, she received a
suggestion post from State Farm saying, "Could your nonprofit use
$25,000?"
"I was like, ‘Heck yes, we can,'" Davison said.
She said the committee submitted a request to be included in the
State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant program. After a few weeks, she
received an email from State Farm telling them that out of 3,000
applications, the New Holland-Middletown project had been selected
as one of the top 200.
From there, the work to get the final payday fell on members of
the community. Of the 200 applications, the top 40 to get the most
online votes would win the awards. Davison said the community group
started getting the word out that everyone could go online and vote
10 times per day for New Holland-Middletown. As voting progressed,
Davison said the last few days they watched the numbers between the
competing projects rise and fall.
When the voting was done, Davison said they were advised that
they would be notified of the final results in six days.
Davison laughed and said: "Do you know how long six days is to
wait? That was an eternity. We got the email that said,
‘Congratulations. You are a top 40 winner,' and I tell you I
screamed, ‘YIKES!'"
Davison also talked about the other communities NH-M was up
against. Some of the projects submitted and in the running were from
huge communities such as New York City and Los Angeles.
Davison said that over the 19 voting days, New Holland-Middletown
received 47,928 votes.
"This is not because of me or because of anyone on our
committee," Davison said. "It is because of everyone, it is because
of our community, it is because of our friends, it is because of our
family members; it's because we want our children to have the best
education, the best tools and the best experiences they can possibly
have. So, I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for
spending the time you have spent to make us so successful."
Davison spent a few minutes recognizing all the members of the
community group. She also asked all the students who have helped
with fundraisers and more to stand up and give a wave.
[to top of second column] |
 Next to speak was Annie Coers. She thanked Davison for her
commitment to the committee and then introduced the representatives
from State Farm who were there to present the check. In addition,
she noted that Jason Boice, a NH-M graduate and employee of State
Farm corporate, was in the audience. She also acknowledged Erica
Corely, who is a State Farm employee and the daughter of the NH-M
technology coordinator, Lynn Corely.
Coers then presented the State Farm representatives with special
gifts. The school had taken a group picture of all the students. The
photos were matted and framed, and the students had signed the
pictures on the matting.
Stacy Skelton took the microphone and read letters of
congratulations from state Rep. Rich Brauer and U.S. Rep. Aaron
Schock. Schock apologized for not being able to attend personally,
but he promised that he would visit the school next year and talk to
the students about the new technology equipment and how it has
helped them in their education.
Deron Powell spoke on behalf of the local agencies, saying they
were all very proud of the New Holland-Middletown School. He also
mentioned the communities hurting in Oklahoma and said State Farm
was there working to help those families.
He finished up by telling the school, students and committee not
to stop applying for the grants from State Farm. He noted that Katie
Young of Rick Hamm's office had said there is one school that has
won two years in a row.
When the agents stood and presented the check to Dugan, the kids
were elated. Loud applause, cheers and screams came from the
bleachers as students expressed their appreciation in their own way.
In addition to the check from State Farm, another presentation
was made to the school.
In the audience were family members of a former music teacher,
the late Phyllis Blaum -- husband Jack, daughter Wendy Custis and
granddaughter Courtney Vercler.
Custis stood and spoke about her mother. She said Blaum grew up
in New Holland; she attended grade and high school in New Holland.
When she graduated from college, she came back and taught at New
Holland-Middletown.
"When she passed away a year ago, this community was so kind and
honored her memory by giving generously to the Phyllis J. Blaum
Music Scholarship fund that her family created," Custis said. "She
always did her best to instill a lifelong love of music to all of
her students, starting from the time they entered kindergarten."
Custis said that in deciding how to award the scholarship money
this year, the family decided that it would be only fitting to give
the first award to the music department at NH-M. She then presented
the school with a check for $1,000. The money will be used for some
new instruments for the elementary classes and for music software
that will be available to the older students at the school.
When the check was handed over, the students once again showed
their great appreciation with cheers, shouts and loud applause.
After the presentation, everyone was invited to move over to the
cafeteria for refreshments and socializing.
With the $25,000 received Tuesday, plus a check for $30,000
presented on May 15 to the school by the New Holland-Middletown
Supports Education community group, the school now has $55,000 to
invest in technology programs for the school. The community group
has set a goal of raising a total of $80,000 for this purpose.
[By NILA SMITH]
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