SUPPORTING EDUCATION — Members of the Brooke County Area Chamber of Commerce Wednesday presented several grants to local schools and the Brooke County Public Library for efforts to educate and encourage students in unique ways. More than $4,000 in grant money was awarded. -- Warren Scott

FOLLANSBEE — From creating robots and miniature roller coasters to learning the principles of percussion using large plastic buckets, efforts to educate and encourage local students in unique ways are being supported by the Brooke County Area Chamber of Commerce.

On Wednesday, the chamber’s education committee presented grants totaling more than $4,000 to several projects at Brooke County schools and one special event set for the Brooke County Public Library.

The educational grant program had been a staple for the former Follansbee Chamber of Commerce, which last year teamed with the former Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce to open it to all Brooke County public schools.

Following the merger earlier this year of the two chambers into the Brooke County Area Chamber of Commerce, the program has continued.

“What a great day for education and our business community, with everyone working together to make things better for our youth,” said chamber President Eric Fithyan.

Fithyan noted local students might become the local business leaders of tomorrow.

Suzanne Davidson, a retired teacher heading the chamber’s education committee, expressed thanks for the contributions from local businesses and others that allowed the grants to be awarded.

She and fellow committee members Sandy Kemp and LuAnn Radcliffe were aided by chamber member Jennfier McFadden.

The grant recipients are:

• The Brooke County Public Library for its annual observance of Take Your Child to the Library Day. Library director

Alex Schneider said on Feb. 7, children, parents and other adult visitors will be invited to view a movie, engage in educational games and activities involving the library’s 3-D pens and other materials.

She said the grant will provide for refreshments and materials used in crafts during the free event, which is open to everyone.

• Amy Ludewig, a teacher at Brooke Middle School’s Apple Lab, who said the grant will be used to purchase special computer mice with which pupils can swipe through web pages and computer documents with less wrist strain than experienced with more traditional mice.

Ludewig’s students are involved in using computer coding to allow them to create computer apps, websites and games.

• Kelly Eggert, a math teacher at the middle school, who said her grant will be used to support a Math Game Night in which pupils and their parents may play Rack-O, Shut the Box and other board games based on math principles while enjoying cookies and hot chocolate.

• Kim Douglas, a music teacher at Wellsburg Primary and Franklin Intermediate schools, to allow her to teach pupils to practice rhythm, patterns and songs while using large plastic buckets as their drums.

• Kayla Ferguson, a second-grade teacher at Wellsburg Primary School, who will use her grant for games, scales, tiles and other hands-on materials to teach pupils about principles of algebra.

• Heidi Dawson, a teacher at Wellsburg Primary School, who will use her grant to purchase materials for the school’s next event to reward pupils for respectful and appropriate behavior.

It was noted past events have involved pupils in creating glow-in-the-dark slime and making ornaments, among other activities.

• Jamie Lancaster, a Brooke High School science teacher, who will purchase stains, chemicals and other materials students in her chemistry, microbiology and biology classes can use to identify bacteria, fungus and other organisms.

Lancaster said she hopes such activities will inspire students to pursue science-oriented careers.

• Scott Donohew, principal at Franklin Intermediate School, who said he will purchase materials with which pupils rewarded for positive behavior can try their hand at painting their own masterpieces.

• Lacey Richie, a fourth-grade teacher at Franklin Intermediate School, who said she will use the grant to purchase materials with which her pupils can build robots and miniature rollercoasters and simulate the effects of an earthquake while learning math principles.

• Melissa Border, another fourth-grade teacher at Franklin, who will use her grant to purchase hand-held games aimed at reinforcing pupils’ understanding of math principles tied to money, time and other everyday matters.

• Cynthia Arthurs, also a teacher at Franklin, who said her grant will be used to implement the Mind in Motion program, which ties activities involving specific movements to concepts of math and reading.

The program is designed for youth who learn best through physical activity.

• Brooke High School engineering students Hunter Darling, Aidan Lathen and Ryan Gill. Tom Bane, their instructor, said the grant will be used to purchase a resin 3-D printer, noting the three students and others have learned to use such printers and trained classmates to do the same.

The grants were presented as part of the chamber’s educational summit, which included a short talk by Joe Wallace, director of community relations at Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Wallace asked the many educators in attendance to envision three common types of students: The difficult one who often disrupts class, the inquisitive one who may have trouble focusing on one task and the student who never smiles.

He suggested for each type, a teacher any offer structure and discipline, encouragement or the ray of light and hope that student lacks.

“These are the students on which you may have the greatest impact,” Wallace advised.

Fithyan said the chamber will be very busy in the months ahead, with a trunk-or-treat slated for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 23 outside the Follansbee Community House.

Attendees are expected to find representatives of more than 30 businesses and organizations offering treats while dressed in a variety of costumes at the free event, which will include craft sessions directed by staff with the Brooke County Family Resource Center inside the Community House.

Fithyan said the chamber’s annual dinner will be held Nov. 12 with a casino night theme and recognition of a business of the year, young professional of the year and other honorees.

And he added the merged chamber will carry on the Wellsburg chamber’s traditional Christmas parade, but it will be moving to 10 a.m. Nov. 22, the Saturday before Thanksgiving Day.

Fithyan said the change will allow the chamber to offer a Christmas Market afterward on the Wellsburg Town Square, with Santa Claus again meeting with children there.