POWERGRAMS

Troy alums first teachers to win first-year grants at same school For the first time in the history of the Alabama Power Foundation New Teacher Grant Program, teachers at the same school have been honored in the same year. The $1,000 grants were presented to Carlie Nygra and Teresa Starr of New Brockton Elementary in Coffee County. Both recipients are graduates of Troy University Dothan and were nominated for the award by Charlotte Minnick, associate professor and director of Teacher Education Program, Certification & Accreditation. Minnick cited both teachers' work ethic and high academic standing in her recommendation. Starr and Nygra are among 13 first- year teachers awarded the grants for 2015. New Brockton Elementary is home to Coffee County's only "First Class" pre-K program. Starr, who teaches the class, may be a first-year teacher, but she is not new to education. After working as an aide in the Fort Rucker school system for 15 years, she decided to go back to school and earn her degree. With two of her children in college, she continued to work while attending classes before graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA. New Brockton Elementary Principal Kelly Cobb said the First Class program has received glowing reports from the state monitoring teams, which visit periodically. "We are one of only 101 First Class pre-K programs in the state," Cobb said. "We are fortunate to have such an enthusiastic and professional teacher at its helm." Nygra works with students with disabilities from kindergarten through sixth grade. "I could not have begun my career in a more welcoming place," she said. "I teach students with mild to severe disabilities. I teach them to try their best to succeed. I want them to learn that even though life is challenging, it can also be rewarding." Starr and Nygra expressed their appreciation to the Alabama Power Foundation. "Setting up a new classroom is much more involved than most people realize," Starr said. "A first-year teacher starts out with a clean canvas and wants to put his or her own touch on the classroom. This grant is a great help with that." "Improving education in our state is a central focus of the Alabama Power Foundation," said John Hudson, president of the foundation. "The New Teacher Grant Program is an important way that we support teachers and students across the state. These grants empower Alabama's most promising teachers during their first year in the classroom." The grant winners, the schools where they teach and the colleges where they earned their degrees are: • Ke'haulani Carpenter, Coldwater Elementary (Anniston), Jacksonville State University • Jasmine Crittendon, J.E. Williams Elementary (Huntsville), Alabama A&M University • James H. Dunkle, Phenix City Elementary, Troy University - Phenix City Campus • Jillian Leigh Eshelman, Morris Avenue Intermediate School (Auburn), Auburn University at Montgomery • Nina Mothershed, Davis Elementary (Montgomery), Alabama State University • Karlin Phillips, Green Valley Elementary (Hoover), University of Alabama at Birmingham • Thomas Smith, Hibbett Middle School (Florence), University of North Alabama • Whitney Faulkner Sutherland, Rolling Hills Elementary (Huntsville), Athens State University • Erica Marie Vatella, Auburn High School, Auburn University • Morgan Vickers, Brookwood Middle School (Vance), University of Alabama • Lauren Welch, Kate Shepard Elementary (Mobile), University of South Alabama. Each year, the Alabama Power Foundation awards more than 1,000 grants, using nonratepayer money. Since it was founded in 1989 with funds donated by Alabama Power shareholders, the foundation has given more than $150 million through more than 20,000 grants and scholarships. To learn more about the foundation and Alabama Power's community and volunteer programs, please visit www.powerofgood.com. By Linda Brannon EDUCATION 3 Starr and Nygra received big checks from Enterprise Business Office Manager Trent Dillard. Starr with three sets of twins in her class, at top; Nygra chats with child in her classroom.

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