EXCEL Foundation delivers $25K grants to Lakes, Lake City

The energy in the Lakes Middle School woodshop was electric Monday afternoon as students and staff learned that the EXCEL Foundation awarded the school a $25,000 grant.

“This is going to have a big impact on students,” Lakes woodshop teacher Aaron Fox said. “I am incredibly grateful to the EXCEL Foundation for their tremendous gift.”

Lakes Middle School will use the funding to expand student learning by purchasing the xTool MetalFab, an all-in-one system that combines laser cutting, welding, cleaning and engraving. The compact technology brings industry-level fabrication tools into the classroom, allowing students to design, build and refine real metal projects.

“This equipment is an entry point to careers in the trades,” Fox said. “There is a huge need for skilled workers. This will open doors and show students the potential of pursuing professional technical careers.”

Students will work with modern fabrication tools in a safe, structured environment, building skills that connect directly to careers in manufacturing, engineering and the skilled trades.

The EXCEL Foundation was established in 1986 to provide grants to teachers in the Coeur d’Alene School District for innovative projects that would not otherwise be funded, said Tracy Weimer Shull, EXCEL Foundation board president. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $3 million to the district.

“The best part of informing the teachers they were receiving a Signature Grant was seeing the excitement in the eyes of the students,” Weimer Shull said. “One of the students at Lakes raised his hand and said, ‘Sign me up!’ Providing these opportunities is the reason the EXCEL Foundation was created, and thanks to our community members and business donors, we can continue to grow and offer more each year.”

The EXCEL Signature Grant supports impactful projects in Coeur d’Alene schools by funding larger, mission-aligned ideas. Every school in the district can apply. Principals and assistant principals work with staff, PTOs, community partners and district teams to develop proposals and present them to the EXCEL board. The board heard presentations last week and awarded the grants on Monday.

“In addition to the yearly grants we fund in the fall, this is our second year offering Signature Grants, which fund up to $25,000 per school,” Shull said. “We are excited to offer this opportunity to Lake City High School and Lakes Middle School for the grants they proposed.”

Lake City High School was also awarded a $25,000 grant and will use the funding to build a new media studio for video production and photography, said Brad Kerr, who teaches graphic design and video production. Nearly 300 students are currently taking photography, videography and graphic design courses at Lake City. The investment reflects a commitment to staying at the leading edge of media production, ensuring students develop skills that align with rapidly evolving digital communication and career pathways.

“We’re so excited,” Kerr said. “It’s going to be great to provide a professional space for our students. We hope to have the media studio built by the start of school next fall, and we’re so thankful to the EXCEL Foundation for this generous gift.”

Added Nik Bjurstrom, who teaches photography and yearbook at Lake City, “The Timberwolf Media Space is designed to support modern storytelling and communication for students and the surrounding community for years to come.”

    Graphic design and video production teacher Brad Kerr, left, and photography and yearbook instructor Nik Bjurstrom were excited to receive a $25,000 grant from the EXCEL Foundation on Monday to build a new media studio for video production and photography at Lake City High School.