Beckley Area Foundation began the Students First program in 1996, to provide funding support for creative and innovative instructional projects. This grant opportunity is for Raleigh County classroom teachers, Pre-K through 12th grade.
A committee comprised of current and retired educators, community volunteers and BAF board members review applications utilizing a ‘blind methodology’ in October. This methodology does not present the applicant’s name or school during the review process.
Grant Application Details
- The maximum amount per request is $750.
- The project must directly involve and benefit students.
- Educators may submit 2 separate applications. Each application must be a stand alone project and cannot supplement the other.
- Example of projects that supplement the other: One application requests $750 for plants, seed and fertilizer. The second application requests $750 for garden equipment and vegetable cages.
- DO NOT INCLUDE ANY identifying information in any part of the application.
- This includes school, teacher, mascots, Title I status, school annuals or newspapers, etc.
- Please make sure the school’s name does not appear on any uploaded documents.
- In fairness to all applications, the inclusion of such information will result in the request being denied.
- Projects Typically Not Funded:
- Items in a classroom that are not part of an instructional project. (Example: Flexible seating and classroom furniture)
- Subscription based programs that need funding each year.
- Party food and consumable items.
- Band/Sports uniforms and t-shirts.
- Speaker fees.
- The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, September 20th.
- A final report is due following completion of your project and is due no later than May 31, 2027.
- Failure to fulfill this requirement will result in exclusion from the next application cycle.
The Foundation may include any photographs you provide, your logo & trademark, or other information/materials about your organization and this grant project in the Foundation’s public reports, newsletters and news releases.
How to apply:
1) Go to our Grant Portal.
2) If you are a new user, you will need to create an account. Previous grantees will use their previous log on information.
3) At the top of your screen, click on Apply. Select the Students First Program 2026-2027 application to begin.
If you have any questions about the grant process, or would like to discuss your project ideas with a member of BAF staff, please email melanie@bafwv.org.
2025 - 2026 Students First Award Recipients:
| School | Recipient and Project Name |
|---|---|
| Beckley Stratton Middle School | Jessica Cook – Books and Buddies: Stories to Share Jessica Cook – Camp Read-A-Lot: Beads, Badges, and Sashes Crystal Harmon – Exploring Cells: Seeing the Building Blocks of Life Crystal Harmon – Growing Minds Through Hydroponics: A Hands-On STEM & Sustainability Project Heather Martin – Surface Area Surgeons Allison Shriver – Books & Banter: A Classroom Conversation Series Julie Midkiff – Design, Score, Cut and Fold: A Hands-On Approach to Geometry Julie Midkiff – Figurative Language Soft Sculptures Sabrina Sears – Letters from the Trenches: A WWI Living History Experience Santana Smith – Math à la Carte: Ratio Diner Sabrina Sears – On the Air: Voices of WWII Allison Shriver – Peace Through Pages: Exploring Theme and Culture through Japanese Literature Amy Shumate – Save A Life Santana Smtih – The Science of Stretch: Exploring the Human Body through Yoga |
| Coal City Elementary School | Cindy Raines – A Bony Proposition Cindy Raines – Rocking Readers! |
| Daniels Elementary | Jada Reeves – Lights, Costumes, Action! Student Writers Take the Stage Susan Ellis – There’s More Than One Way to Brighten Their Day. Susan Ellis – We Must Come to Our Senses |
| Fairdale Elementary School | Jessica Dunbar – Book Bistro: A Tasting Menu of Reading & Cultures Jessica Dunbar – Candyland of Knowledge: Navigating Text Features Jamie Hazelwood – Detective Day: A Learning Adventure Jamie Hazelwood – Hats Off to Imagination: Wearing Geometry in Action Elizabeth Jenkins – Little Innovators: Preschool STEAM Adventure Elizabeth Jenkins – Read, Sing, Play! – A Family Literacy Day Tara Grubb – Soaring Readers to Become Leaders Judy Daniel – Thematic Dramatic Play In Pre-K |
| Ghent Elementary | Contessa Worley – Morning Meeting Movement and Music |
| Independence High School | Jon Moore – Model Cars: Exploring Science Through Hands-On Engineering |
| Independence Middle School | Kayleigh Humphreys – Balsa Brilliance Hanna McIntyre – Coraline and Claymation: Using Art to Develop Literacy Comprehension Carolyn Buzbee – Who, Who, Who hears an owl? |
| Mount Hope Christian Academy | Martha Cruise – Big Buddies, Little Scientists: STEM Learning Across the Grades Jessica Miller – Ready, Set, Learn |
| Park Middle School | Alicia Hardman – “People are really good at heart”: The Anne Frank Museum Project Alicia Hardman – “The People v. The Unreliable Narrator” Holly Kincaid – From Shreds to Sheets & Sculpture Holly Kincaid – Wearable Wonders |
| Ridgeview Elementary School | Jessica Rush – Owls, Rats, and Voles! Oh My!! |
| Shady Spring Elementary | Carla Campbell – “Winn-Dixie’s Friendship Festival” Project Carla Campbell – Starbooks- Sip, Taste and Read! |
| Sophia Christian Academy | Beth Jones – All Things Appalachia Beth Jones – STEAM Teams |
| SSHS | Shawna Harvey – Wings of Wonder |
| Stratton Elementary School | Ruth Bryant – Therapy Materials for Preschool Autism |
| Trap Hill Middle School | Melinda Bailey – Transforming Performance Spaces Lauren Hicks – Setting the Stage Lauren Hicks – Spotlight Singers Jessica Basham – Building Tomorrow Today: Engineering 3D Models Lisa Brown – Readers’ Café: “Transforming Reading Through Genre Exploration” |
| Woodrow Wilson High School | Tanya Hayworth – Desktop Publishing Student Portfolio Michelle Clarkson – Let’s get LOUD! |