Enclosure photo: (l-r) Marilyn Marks, Hosea Born, Corliss Stuckey, April Reisma
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HOPE, AR - December 3, 2024 - Hope Academy of Public Service (HAPS) teacher Hosea Born is the recipient of a $5000 grant from the NEA Foundation. The NEA Foundation is the philanthropic leg of the National Education Foundation. The grant will be used to help fund a student trip to Washington DC and Philadelphia PA for a “DC vs Philadelphia Debatable” project. Born says the project introduces the seven debate students to how federal-level bills are created and introduced to Congress. Born explained, “The students will research and debate which city is better. They will also be drafting sample legislation to be presented at a meeting with our legislators, impacting us in Arkansas and specifically in Hope.”
The students will fly to Washington DC during the first week of June, stay a few days there exploring the city and meeting with elected officials, then take a high-speed train to Philadelphia to learn more about the nation’s birthplace.
Marilyn Marks, Principal at HAPS, said, “I’m proud of the opportunity for our students. I think exposure is everything in terms of helping them see things ‘outside the box.’ This gives them the big picture of what public service looks like and how to advocate for yourself.”
The grant covers most of the cost of the trip for the students. However, Born says there will be community fund-raisers to help pay for the remainder of the costs, such as hotels. The fundraisers will be held starting after the first of the year. Hope Public Schools will share notice of the fundraisers with the public as they become available.
Hope Education Association President, Corliss Stuckey, said, “We’ve never had this opportunity before. Big congratulations to Mr. Born and your team.”
Several students were on hand to take part in the ceremony. When asked what they were looking forward to the most, students overwhelmingly replied, “The food!” The students also expressed interest in various museums and places of interest such as Independence Hall in Philadelphia and the Spy Museum in Washington DC.
“I am super proud of Mr. Born as a member of the Arkansas Education Association. He is the epitome of what we need for educators in the state of Arkansas,” said April Reisma, President of the Arkansas Education Association.
The NEA Foundation awards annual grants to members from each state who apply for the grants. Each application can be for up to $5000 per teacher project. In 2024, the NEA Foundation received over 300 applications and Mr. Born was one of only 64 applicants who were funded through the grant program.
For more information about the NEA Foundation and its grant, please visit https://www.neafoundation.org/educator-grants-and-fellowships/
For more information about the “DC vs Philadelphia Debatable Project,” contact Mr. Born at hosea.born@hpsdistrict.org####