STCU awards $27,000 in area classroom grants

Twenty-two teachers in Kootenai and Bonner county school districts were among those receiving $250 classroom grants as part of STCU’s efforts to welcome educators back to school.

In the Lake Pend Oreille School District, Mary Bird and Malia Meschko of Sandpoint High School were selected for grants.

The not-for-profit credit union, which was founded by teachers, is honoring its roots by awarding the grants to 108 educators from throughout the region — a total of $27,000 to winners who are drawn at random.

The winners can spend their $250 grant on anything they believe will enhance students’ classroom experience, whether a basic need or something special.

STCU surprised 80 of the winners the week of Oct. 6. Another 28 winners from Spokane, Richland and Kennewick will be drawn in November. Staff in those districts have the opportunity to enter the drawings at district benefits fairs.

Continuing a long tradition, STCU provided meals, refreshments and door prizes at back-to-school events for more than 6,500 educators and other staff in 23 public school districts in Eastern Washington and North Idaho this year, with more to come.

Classroom staff who attend those events can enter our drawings for classroom grants. It is the seventh year that STCU has offered the grant drawings, which have been greatly expanded in recent years to include more recipients.

Founded by educators in 1934, STCU has nearly 200,000 members, $3.1 billion in assets and 23 branch locations, including five in North Idaho. A Rathdrum branch is scheduled to open in early 2020.