Student Grant-A-Wish Program
Berkeley Heights Education Foundation
For the first time ever, all students throughout the Berkeley Heights school district from kindergarten to 12th grade were invited to submit a request to have their “wish” granted by the Berkeley Heights Education Foundation (BHEF). Each student was able apply for funds to support anything they can think of that would enhance their educational experience. One student’s wish was selected from each Berkeley Heights public school with the winner’s school receiving up to $500 to put towards making that student’s wish a reality during the current school year. From all the student wish applications, a “Community Impact” wish was identified, as well, that will be similarly funded.
“They picked my wish!? That’s awesome!” said Max Bussin, 5th grade student at Thomas P. Hughes Elementary School when he found out his wish was being granted. “All the kids are going to be so excited!”
Each year, the BHEF offers teachers and administrators the opportunity to apply for grants that support innovative and creative educational programs, as well as supplement technology and equipment in our public schools. Through mid-January 2023, the BHEF had already awarded almost $20,000 in grants to district teachers and administrators for the current school year. We are very excited to have this opened up to our students this school year!
“I have been part of the BHEF for a long time and I am always amazed at the ideas that our district’s students come up with,” said Daniela McDonnell, President, BHEF. “It’s a privilege to be able to help support these kids. And now we’re able to provide them a way to directly impact their day-to-day learning by making these ideas a reality.”
The winning student wishes are as follows:
- An Environmental Day event during which students will be able to help clean-up a local park (Tudor Antonescu, 2nd grade, Mary Kay McMillin Preschool)
- Bird feeder for the school garden that will allow students to watch and learn about different birds in the area (Henry Hao, 2nd grade, William Woodruff Elementary School)
- Virtual reality headsets that will enable students to do experiments “without making a mess,” and visit places around the world (AJ Raiti, 5th grade, Mountain Park Elementary School)
- Gaga Pit for physical education and recess (Max Bussin, 5th grade Thomas P. Hughes)
- 3D printer to support the school’s STEM program (Seojun Yun, 8th grade, Columbia Middle School)
- Installation of LED lightbulbs in all high school classrooms (Charlotte Kang, 11th grade, Governor Livingston High School)
- A telescope to be used as part of a newly-created program in partnership with the Berkeley Heights Public Library to host monthly astronomy events (Justin Liu, 11th grade, Community Impact)
For more information about the student and teacher educational wishes granted by the Berkeley Heights Education Foundation, please visit bhedfoundation.org/help/#intheschool.
About the Berkeley Heights Education Foundation
The BHEF is a volunteer-run, 501(c)3 tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization that operates independently of the Berkeley Heights Board of Education and the Parent Teacher Organizations. The BHEF raises funds to enhance education excellence in the Berkeley Heights Public Schools by sponsoring programs that support innovative instruction, strengthen school-community ties, enrich students’ appreciation of the arts and humanities, and augment technology resources throughout the district.
