During the business meeting, the five recipients of the group’s annual Grant-in-Aide Awards were announced by Pauline Buchner. Each year, applications are mailed to the Alpena, Montmorency and Presque Isle Schools, enabling new teachers in each district to apply for $100 to be used for enhanced instruction.

Ellie Crawford and Mary Jo Ferguson were chosen from Atlanta Community Schools. Crawford is a new teacher and will use her award to purchase books in various interest areas to encourage reading. Ferguson will be able to provide additional science activities and experiments for her sixth and seventh grade science students and have monies for the newly formed robotics program she is coaching at the junior high school.

Ellen Fritz is the teacher of the new French program at Alcona Commnunity Schools. Language-based games and books for her classroom will be purchased.

Christi Cross, middle school special education teacher at Onaway Middle School, will invest in books for the SEL curriculum.

Courtesy Photo Donations to Hope Shores Alliance were collected by the Alpha Xi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma.

Serena Birk, teacher at Pied Piper School in Alpena, will be receiving supplies to enhance learning for students with cognitive impairments.

The members of the Alpha Xi Chapter of DKG were pleased to have Ferguson join them to tell them about her background and receive her award in person.

Carol Kindt announced that $2,000 has again been contributed by the Gerber Foundation to fund the Alpha Xi Chapter of DKG’s literacy program at My Michigan Medical Center. This program provides every newborn with a picture book, which includes suggestions for parents to begin developing their child’s love of books and reading.

Midge Connon provided an update on the financial status of the DKG Myrna Kelly Scholarship. The scholarship money was given by the estate of Kelly, a retired teacher at Alpena Public Schools and a former member of the Alpha Xi Chapter of DKG. Additional monies have been contributed and the balance of the original $10,000 has grown.

At the end of the evening, it was announced that members in attendance contributed $500 to Hope Shores Alliance, in addition to many gifts that were donated. These were delivered the following day.

The evening concluded with a tour given by Besser Museum Executive Director Christine Witulski of the new exhibit under construction at the museum.

The group’s next meeting will be held at noon on Jan. 25 at the First Presbyterian Church, 1600 W. Chisholm St., Alpena.