POWERGRAMS

7 2021 Power to Play grant recipients • Abbeville High School • Amelia Love Johnson High School • Baker High School • B.C. Rain High School • Bibb County High School • Brilliant School • Calera High School • Calhoun High School • Carroll High School • Central High School • Chilton County High School • Dallas County High School • Demopolis High School • Fayette County High School • Gadsden Middle School • Handley High School • Houston County High School • J.B. Pennington High School • Jemison Middle School • Leeds Middle School • Litchfield Middle School • Montevallo Middle School • Oxford Middle School • Phillips High School • Scarborough Model Middle School • Selma High School • Slocomb High School • Southside High School • Southside Preparatory Magnet Academy • Sulligent High School • Talladega County Central High School • Thomasville High School • Verbena High School • Wilson Hall Middle School PTO • Winterboro High School • Westlawn Middle School The foundation gave Power to Play grants totaling $89,828 to 43 Alabama schools in 2021. The funding was provided for requests ranging from hiring baseball umpires for the season to purchasing a new kiln, clay and accessories for art classes to reinstating B-team basketball. "The grant took us a good distance toward reaching some of our most immediate needs," Jones-Conley said. "We used some of the money for repairs to instruments to get them back up to where they were playable. It's been very beneficial for us this year and we really appreciate it." Nearly one in five Westlawn students are taking stringed instrument classes under Jones-Conley. He keeps their lessons upbeat with a mix of current hip-hop and R&B hits as well as songs more familiar to parents or grandparents. "When the students feel invested in the songs, they play better," he said smiling. Flags of several colleges fly in the Westlawn hallway as a reminder of where the middle school's alumni have gone on to study. The WMS Mission painted on those same school walls is that "every child" leaves there ready for a college and career. Atkins said boosters like the Alabama Power Foundation provide opportunities for all 543 of her students. "We are just so thankful of the support," she said. By Chuck Chandler

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