Starting this fall, Liberal R-II School District will enhance current math and science programs with biotechnology. Thanks to the support of local farmers and Americas Farmers Grow Rural Education! , Liberal R-II School District received a $10,000 grant to buy lab equipment to perform advanced biotechnology, such as DNA fingerprinting and electrophoresis techniques. Students in biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology and physical sciences classes will benefit from the grant.

Americas Farmers Grow Rural Education, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, gives farmers the opportunity to nominate a public school district in their community to compete for a grant of either $10,000 or $25,000 to enhance education in the areas of math and/or science. More than 1,000 nominated school districts submitted applications. The Monsanto Fund will invest $2.3 million into rural education through this program.

Pam Clemensen, high school science teacher at Liberal High School, recalls how excited she was after hearing the news.

On the first day of school, Mr. Robertson, our high school principal, was welcoming our students back to school, introducing staff and going over the handbook, Clemensen said. Meanwhile, Mr. Harvey, our superintendent, walked into the gym and said I have some exciting news for you- Liberal received the Monsanto Grant! I was so excited! We just want to say thank you Monsanto, for providing this wonderful opportunity for our students.

After being nominated by local farmers, school districts completed an online application, and finalists were chosen by math and science teachers from ineligible school districts. The Americas Farmers Grow Rural Education Advisory Council, a group of 26 prominent farmers from across the country, then reviewed the finalists applications and selected the winners.

Local farmer James McClendon is one of the 48 farmers who nominated the Liberal R-II School District for the grant. McClendon is happy to see the school his grandson is currently attending receive funds to improve the ag education program.

We have less than 600 students enrolled in our schools and the town as a whole only has 700 people, McClendon said. We are an ag-based community, and its good that grants like this exist so that our children are exposed to the same opportunities as children in bigger school systems.

Link:
Liberal (Mo.) gets Monsanto grant for biotechnology enhancement