Gilchrist Foundation Supports Local Schools
Arts education is an integral part of students’ lives. Arts education, including music, theater, dance and media and visual arts, teaches student innumerable lessons. According to Americans for the Arts, arts education teaches practice makes perfect, small differences can have large effects and collaboration leads to creativity. Arts education also teaches that there a several paths to take when approaching problems and all problems can have more than one solution.
The arts, including music, museums and theater were all passions of Jocelyn Gilchrist, which is why today the Gilchrist Foundation awards grants every year that foster arts education in students of all ages.
Here are some of the awards the Foundation awarded to local educational institutions in 2022.
Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools
Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools, which offers private K-12 education in Sioux City, received a $12,500 Project Grant in 2022 for a new sound system for the Crusader Courtyard at Bishop Heelan High School. The new outdoor PA system is used for special events and student gatherings. Since its installation, the new system has been used to play music for students during courtyard lunches, blessings and back to school announcements.
The courtyard itself, which opened in fall of 2021, features tables and benches sponsored by specific Heelan classes, alumni and family members and helps to enrich the high school experience for students.
“Our new courtyard is used for student lunches, study halls, outdoor classes, school events, alumni reunions, socializing and music,” says Dr. John Flanery, president of Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools. “We are grateful to the Gilchrist Foundation for its support to bring sound to a valued new area of our campus.”
Wayne State Foundation supports Wayne State College, located in Wayne, Neb. The foundation received a $25,000 Capital Campaign Grant which went towards the renovation and addition to the Peterson Fine Arts building.
According to Wayne State Foundation, the renovations include:
New rehearsal spaces for the bands and choirs that will include ample space, professional acoustics, natural light and will be easily accessible on the main level.
Improved acoustics in all practice rooms and teaching studios, making them safer for performers. Upgrades to Ramsey Theatre to support larger acts and productions.
Improved accessibility with a new central elevator, a ramp to the Ramsey stage, a family restroom, and additional seating for spectators with mobility limitations
Ample student work, study, and practice space for collaboration and conversation.
An expanded atrium for receptions and public gatherings.
Western Iowa Tech Community College Foundation
Western Iowa Tech Community College Foundation, which supports Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City, Iowa, received a $30,000 Project Grant to help remodel the school’s auditorium. School officials say the auditorium has not seen any major updates for at least 25 years and remodeling it will modernize it, increasing its functionality.
Western Iowa Tech has plans to replace seating, carpeting, wall surfaces, lighting and the sound system in the auditorium to make it a more comfortable environment to hold events.
Dakota Valley School District, a public K-12 school district located in N. Sioux City, S.D., received a $4,700 Micro Grant to purchase three tower gardens used to teach healthy food sourcing.
The Dakota Valley School District was established July 1, 1994, with 621 students. Today, its current enrollment is more than 1,350 students. Over the past 25 years, Dakota Valley has been known for its exceptional student achievement, outstanding fine arts programs, consistent athletic accomplishments at the highest levels and award-winning facilities, all accompanied by tremendous community support and generous donors.
Morningside University, located in Sioux City, Iowa, received a $3,000 Micro Grant to bring in playwright, actor and Morningside alum Lorenzo Sandoval to workshop his new play, “Juanito and His Tales.” Along with this workshop, Sandoval talked to Morningside students about his experience writing professionally, hosted a reading for his new play and offered performances of “Juanito and His Tales” for the Morningside and Siouxland community.
The performances took place on March 24 and 25, 2022 at Morningside’s Klinger-Neal Theatre and were free and open to the public.
Morningside University also received a $5,000 Micro Grant to expand its spring planning to attract butterflies and support their habitat.
Dordt University, located in Sioux Center, Iowa, received a Micro Grant of $5,000 for the University’s Theatre Arts Department to bring in artist in-residence and Dordt alum Jason Vande Brake for the Spring 2023 production of “A Doll's House.” Professor of Theatre Arts Laurel Koerner and Vande Brake will take on the lead roles in the show, with students working alongside them in other roles and as acting apprentices.
“Having faculty and professionals participate in this way is, we believe, unprecedented for Dordt and incredibly valuable,” says Koerner. “This production also brings two ‘homegrown’ artists together to offer an exceptional experience for the local community, as I am from Sanborn and Jason is from Sheldon.”
The Gilchrist Foundation’s micro-grants are a valuable catalyst for creative activity in Siouxland, adds Koerner.
One of Sioux City’s three public high schools, North High School, received a $5,000 Micro Grant for the presentation of the band and color guard show, Día de Muertos, as part of the school’s annual Starfest event. The event highlighted the cultural awareness of the young performers.
The culture of Día de Muertos speaks to the school’s large Hispanic population as over 50% of the students are Hispanic and the band is diverse as well. The performance featured three musical movements, flags, culturally appropriate outfits and skeleton makeup.
Other area schools received awards as well. The Hinton Community School District also received a $5,000 Micro Grant to purchase drumline equipment and Briar Cliff University received a $9,700 Project Grant for the commission of a mural in Heelan Hall.
How to Apply
Area educational institutions interested in receiving an award from the Gilchrist Foundation have two options: they can submit a Request for Consideration by April 1, 2023 or apply for a Micro Grant.
The Foundation does not accept any unsolicited applications for funds. Project, Endowment and Capital Campaign grants are only awarded to pre-selected charities which have been Invited to apply based on the perceived match of both organizations’ missions. The Foundation primarily supports the arts, wildlife and conservation, public broadcasting and disaster relief.
Micro Grants, on the other hand, can be requested any time. Micro Grants offer grants up to $5,000. This grant allows non-profit groups to receive funding for smaller projects on a one-time basis. Criteria for award will include the opportunity to bring theater, music, art, green spaces, parks, wildlife and conservation efforts into the lives of Siouxland residents. Micro Grants will be either accepted or denied within 30 days.
For more information about the Micro-Grant Project, contact Security National Bank at 712-277-6586 or wealth@snbonline.com