Success Stories 2023
The Tempe Union High Schools Education Foundation sponsored and donated to the following:
More Success Stories
2024 - 2025 School Year | 2022-2023 School Year
Grants the Foundation Awarded in 2022-2023
Promote effective and innovative teaching and challenge teachers to improve student performance:
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Headphones $305 – Marcos de Niza
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Curriculum set, household items for Life Skills Lab - $2,000 – Marcos de Niza
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Choral Risers - $5,000 - Tempe HS
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Tempe Union Online - $1,000 for ACT performance student incentive
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Promote social and emotional well-being and/or classroom skills:
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Sustainability School Garden - $1,100 - Desert Vista
Promote innovation and technology:
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Engineering Soldering Stations - $2,934 - Corona del Sol
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Dissolved Oxygen Meters - $5,000 - Desert Vista
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Bioactive Enclosure - $1,100 - Mt. Pointe
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Solar Car Materials - $2,500 - Desert Vista
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Engineering Student Project - $2,700 - Desert Vista
Share collaboration with other teachers, parents, business, and/or community individuals or groups:
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Fine Arts Technical Lighting Expert - $3,000 - Corona del Sol
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Performing Arts/Steel Band Performer to work with band - $1,500 - Corona del Sol
Engineering Project at Corona del Sol High School
The Foundation has awarded $2,935 to Engineering Teacher Melissa Wendell at Corona del Sol High School to create a Makerspace of soldering stations. Engineering students are learning soldering, which is one part of the manufacturing process they will use to assemble a programmable robot. The project is designed to model how the industry builds and creates products in manufacturing. In addition, students will learn valuable engineering skills as well as professional skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication.
Banner contributed by Board member Craig Keller and designed by Eric Adams at AlphaGraphics.
Fine Arts Technical Lighting Expert
Elizabeth Pease, Corona del Sol Dance Director, requested funding to bring in an outside lighting designer, Mr. Todd Muller, to work with dance students to produce Corona Dance Company's production of "Nutcracker Tale." Mr. Muller served as the lighting designer and installation tech and gave instruction to the directors and students, which provided a unique enrichment opportunity above and beyond a traditional high school dance concert.
Student Quotes:
"Learning from Todd about the importance of side lighting in dance was eye opening. We really could tell a difference in the overall quality of our show, and now have the skills to be able to reproduce and practice on our own. Thank you for making the Corona Dance Company shine!"
"Getting the opportunity to work with a professional lighting designer was such an incredible experience! We really learned how lighting effects the show and how to create magic through lighting. Thank you!"
Choral Risers at Tempe High School
Director of Bands, Choir, and Guitar teacher Antonio Lozano and Coordinator of Fine and Performing Arts Josh Thye teamed up to write a grant proposal for risers for Tempe High School. The Foundation awarded $5,000 toward the risers.
Bioactive Enclosure at Mt. Pointe
The Foundation awarded $1,000 to Mt. Pointe Biology teacher Jonah Hurst to create a Bioactive enclosure in his classroom in order to allow colonies of isopods and insections to thrive. The students will cultivate the colonies and use them in labs.
Grant to Tempe Union Online
Tempe Union Online Coordinator Amie Hickel was granted $1,000 to provide online students with incentives to complete the ACT. The Tempe Online Class of 2024 ACT completion rate increased to 84% compared to the previous year of 40%. This was one of several plans the online staff put into place to increase participation.
Grant to Desert Vista
Desert Vista Engineering Teacher Rick Schapler's students were granted $2,700 toward their project to design and build a robotic tee shirt launcher.
Grant to Desert Vista
Desert Vista Engineering teacher Rick Schapler's students were funded $2,500 for the solar car project. The students competed in the "Racing the Sun" competition in Tucson.
Grant to Corona del Sol
Corona del Sol Steel Band Director Scott Werner requested funding for special guest artist Liam Teague to teach and perform with the Steel Band students. The Foundation awarded $1,500 toward this enriching experience.
Grant to Desert Vista
Students had the opportunity to utilize the Dissolved Oxygen meters funded by the TUHSEF grant awarded during the 22-23 school year. During the lab, students were able to measure the Initial oxygen level of two bottles which included a sprig of Elodea. After 24 hours, students re-measured the Dissolved Oxygen levels of both bottles. One bottle was blacked out not allowing light and the second was clear, allowing light to pass through to the plant. We tried various forms of “black out” between our Honors Biology 1 classes in order to fine tune this lab for future years. Overall, students were excited to utilize real world equipment in the classroom with a hands-on activity rather than only viewing a video taped lab for data collection.
Fine Art Scholarships
The 2023 scholarship winners:
1st place: Benjamin Lopez - Marcos de Niza - After Darkness We Hope for Light - $2,000
2nd place: Ariel C. Therrien - Corona del Sol - Scyphoza (Jelly Fish) - $1,500
3rd place: Abby Salazar - Mt. Pointe - Fry Burger - $1,000
4th place: Ella Donovan - Desert Vista - Melody - $1,000
FAFSA Events
https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
Tempe Union High School District encourages the families of students attending college to complete the FAFSA application. This is required when requesting financial assistance for the student’s education. FAFSA Events are held throughout the district to provide information to parents and students about the application process.
Convocation Breakfast Sponsor
National Merit Semifinalist Recognition
The Foundation supports the annual reception for these exceptional students and their families.
https://www.nationalmerit.org/s/1758/interior.aspx?sid=1758&gid=2&pgid=424
THREADZ
THREADZ, a project of Tempe Community Council’s Youth and Families program, provides students with needed clothing, hygiene items and school supplies. Currently, there are three THREADZ stores in the District, one at Tempe High and the others at Marcos de Niza and Mt. Pointe. Both are open to all students in the District. Donations are always appreciated, especially gently used and clean tennis/athletic shoes, t-shirts and jeans that are designed with tees in mind. Please see the website for more details.