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Columbia Business Monthly

Colonial Life Awards $20,000 in Grants to Lexington Two Teachers

Through its Strong Schools Grant program, Colonial Life supports Midlands educators who have innovative and creative ideas for increasing student engagement.

For the upcoming school year, Colonial Life is awarding $20,000 in grants to 25 Lexington School District Two educators. The teachers were honored at an Aug. 15 luncheon.

Teachers applied to receive grants of up to $1,000 to purchase equipment and resources that support lessons focused on world-class knowledge and skills and life and career characteristics as outlined in the Profile of the S.C. Graduate.

“We are excited to have such a long-standing partnership with Colonial Life,” said Dr. William B. James Jr., superintendent of Lexington Two. “Colonial Life’s investment of human capital, as well as financial support is exemplary. The Strong Schools Grants program has enabled our teachers to implement creative initiatives beyond the normal curriculum and provided our students with numerous learning opportunities.”

Colonial Life is awarding 22 mini-grants to these 25 Lexington Two teachers:

  • Airport High School: Amanda Altman, Mary Elizabeth K. Owen, Odaliz Martinez-Cruz and Stephanie Bailey

  • Brookland-Cayce High School: James Brown

  • Congaree Elementary School: Lorri Wood

  • Congaree/Wood Early Childhood Center: Sarah Weatherly and Karen Williams

  • Cyril B. Busbee Creative Arts Academy: John Hunter Reese

  • New Bridge Academy: Beverly Rucker, Suzette Brunson and T. Lynn Moseley

  • Pine Ridge Middle School: Amanda Chapman and Maggie Cusey

  • R.H. Fulmer Middle School: Alexis Deese-Smith, Jessica Jeffers Goings and Jessica Zearfoss

  • Riverbank Elementary School: Kim Addy, Brittany Staples, Brooke Jones, Kathy Siebert and Sherry Wright

  • Springdale Elementary School: Kim Gibson, Sherry Page and O’Neta Poovey

“Supporting education is a pillar of who we are as a community leader and our corporate social responsibility work at Colonial Life,” said Tim Arnold, president and CEO of Colonial Life. 

“With the help of our employees, we are committed to supporting today’s students and educators with the tools needed to thrive in a 21st century workforce.”

In five previous years of the program, Colonial Life has funded nearly $120,000 to Richland School District One and Lexington Two educators through the Strong Schools Grant program. The grants are administered with the help of the United Way of the Midlands.