Many more reasons to celebrate!

Our One Million Reasons to Support Ann Arbor Public Schools has kicked off with donations from 311 community supporters.  We have pledges totaling $90,000, with gifts ranging from $20 to $10,000.  If you haven’t given or made a pledge yet, there’s still time.  The campaign deadline has been extended to July 31, 2011.  Click here to give online, call our office at 994-1969, or mail your donation to AAPSEF, 2555 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48104.

The Initiatives for Excellence committee is reviewing requests for funding next year, which include support for world languages at the elementary level; environmental education program field trip support; Plan and Explore tests for secondary students; enrichment coordinator support, eighth grade Algebra support; fifth grade instrumental music support, and more.  To learn more about what your donations do, visit our website here.  We need your help, and every gift makes a difference!

Meet Our New Board Members!

The Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation announces the addition of three new members to its Board of Directors. Martin Bouma, Barbara Eichmuller and Collyer Smith will join the board this summer and serve for 3-year terms. Board Chair Helen Starman says, “We are so pleased to welcome Martin, Barbara and Collyer to the Board of Directors. Their energy is a wonderful addition to our group.”

Martin Bouma is a local realtor and President of The Martin Bouma Group. He currently has one child in the Ann Arbor Public Schools at Haisley Elementary, and his youngest will enter kindergarten there this fall. He believes very strongly in the importance of a healthy public school system: “A strong public school system is an integral part of the local economy – having the ability to attract the talent necessary for continued economic growth in Washtenaw County. With all of the challenges to our local school systems (state funding cuts, losing students to private schools, economic disparities, etc.) it’s more important than ever that local leaders stay in the forefront of promoting a strong school system.”

Barbara Eichmuller is an associate broker with the Charles Reinhart Company. She is an AAPS alum, having attended Pattengill, Tappan and Pioneer High School. On joining the Educational Foundation board, Eichmuller calls for the involvement of individuals to support our schools: “I believe it is critical that at this point in time when funding for education is being cut from all directions that citizens at large participate in funding programs however and wherever possible. We must have high quality educational programs to attract new business and new jobs to the Ann Arbor area.”

Collyer Smith works for the Bank of Ann Arbor and is a longtime supporter of the Educational Foundation. His son is a high school student with dual enrollment at Community and Pioneer High Schools. According to Collyer, “You can talk about public education, or be engaged in it. My preference is engagement.”

We’re so lucky to have the engagement of a skilled, dedicated Board! We’ll give you more detailed profiles of our new members in the coming year as they find which committees and work suits them best in our organization.

Scholarships Awarded to AAPS Students

Eighteen Ann Arbor Public Schools students have been awarded scholarships administered by the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation. At senior banquets, athletic events and end-of-year ceremonies, these outstanding students have been recognized for their accomplishments. Please join us in congratulating:

Haley MeLampy, Pioneer High School, Evy Eugene Mavrellis Student Leadership Award

Kieana Watts and Darrel Nubin Jr., Haisley Elementary, Peter Stamos Memorial Scholarship

Zach Juliar, Pioneer High School, Dorothy M. Russell Scholarship

Max Brown, Community High School, Rick Burgess Memorial Scholarship

Tiffany Cole, Pioneer High School, Alex Tons Scholarship Award

Chi Tran, Huron High School, Taylor Calhoun Outstanding Cheerleading Scholarship

McKinlee Ward and Margaret Peggy Wu, Huron High School, Sunshine Awards for women’s Soccer and Tennis respectively

Michelle Garcia, Pioneer High School, Kacee Cronk Scholarship

Garrett Wood and Gilad Eisbruch, Community High School, Jill Donellan Award

Christina Allen-Pipkin, Huron High School, Lisa Ann Gallagher Award

Alissa Pace, Pioneer High School, Robert E. Lewis Jr. Award

Noam Zimet, Pioneer High School, Clara Goodrich Award

Ellen Shen, Ellen Sauer, Dyami Bomia and Adira Cohen, Women’s Symphony Fund Scholarships for Summer Music Camps

The Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation maintains these funds, and the award process, as a service to our community. Most of the awards memorialize outstanding students and faculty of the Ann Arbor Public Schools. We’re honored to preserve their memory by paying respect to the continuing excellence of Ann Arbor students. 

Come out and see us at Top of the Park

Tuesday, June 21, 2011, 6:30 – 9:30 PM 

Please join us in celebrating our 2011 One Million Reasons campaign at the Top of the Park, Ann Arbor’s fun outdoor event that coincides with the Ann Arbor Summer Festival. Our tent will be at the northeast corner of the festival, near Rackham stage – we’ll provide the appetizers and a cash bar, and good company!   The lineup on stage includes “Rock the Mall” – a teen music competition, and the movie shown at nightfall is “The Social Network.”  Hope to see you there! 

DFCU launches new program to raise funds for schools

Dearborn Financial Credit Union is determined to be a good new neighbor in Ann Arbor.  Earlier this year, DFCU Financial donated $10,000 to the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation as part of the credit union’s commitment to support public education in the communities where it has branches. Through the Schools and You (SAY) program, DFCU Financial has committed another $10,000 to the foundation for 2011.

From May 16 to August 30, 2011, DFCU Financial will donate $25.00 for new deposit accounts opened or loans closed at one of its five Ann Arbor area branches. Loans must close prior to August 30, 2011; accounts must remain open until August 30, 2011.  Maximum donation is $50 per member.  For more information, visit www.dfcufinancial.com.

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Stay in touch with your fellow AAPS alums, or see what your kids will be doing in a decade or so!

http://www.annarboralumni.org

Save the date

Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation's 17th Annual Golf Outing

Monday, August 29, 2011, Stonebridge Golf Course