The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation announced the 31 winning schools in the "D-backs $150,000 Back-To-School Challenge," presented by the University of Phoenix. With nearly 600 submissions from Arizona schools, the winning grants come from all around the state of Arizona and will fund projects ranging in need from school improvements to innovative educational programs. The program, which was brought back by popular demand after the initial announcement in March, has donated $250,000 to 51 Valley schools over the past nine months.
Winning schools will use the grant money to satisfy an array of needs. School improvements range from automatic doors for kids with disabilities to a computer lab upgrade. Nutrition and fitness projects include new and revitalized campus gardens to promote healthy eating and feature a rainwater harvesting system. One school has requested the grant for supplies to support a farmer's market in order to sell the home-grown vegetables and fruits to people in their community. Additional projects featured highly innovative educational programs, including: an online school newspaper, student-designed and constructed solar house, a micro-power grid utilizing solar and hydro energy alternatives, and iPad technology to host debates via Skype with a partner school in India.
| School | Program Name/Purpose | Location | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCEL | Wired for Life | Phoenix | Innovation/Technology |
| Adams Traditional Academy | 21st Century Art | Phoenix | Innovation/Technology |
| Blueprint High School | Blended-Learning Math Initiative | Chandler | Innovation/Technology |
| Carpenter Middle School | Think College | Nogales | Educational Programs |
| Core Continental School | School Garden | Phoenix | Nutrition/Fitness |
| Creighton Special Education | Swinging Recess | Phoenix | Nutrition/Fitness |
| Desert Horizon Elementary | Do Something Community Garden | Phoenix | Educational Programs |
| EC Nash Elementary | A Will A Way for Reading Success | Tucson | Educational Programs |
| Friendly House Academia del Pueblo | Enhanced Education Software | Phoenix | Innovation/Technology |
| Hope High School | Mobile Science Center | Phoenix | Innovation/Technology |
| Horizon Elementary | Number Worlds | Glendale | Educational Programs |
| Liberty Traditional | WATT Do You Do When the Grid Goes Down | Phoenix | Innovation/Technology |
| Manuel Pena Elementary | Technology | Phoenix | Innovation/Technology |
| Maya High School | Virtual Library Project | Phoenix | Innovation/Technology |
| Monterey Park Learning Center | Monterey School Garden | Phoenix | Nutrition/Fitness |
| Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School | Microscopes | Tempe | Educational Programs |
| Papago School | Opening Doors | Phoenix | School Improvements |
| Perry High School | iPads | Gilbert | Innovation/Technology |
| Poston Butte High School | Integrated Algebra II and Chemistry | Florence | Innovation/Technology |
| Rio Rico High School | RRHS Library Computer Lab | Rio | Innovation/Technology |
| Sahuarita High School | Advanced Placement Chemistry | Sahuarita | Educational Programs |
| Sahuaro High School | HeartMath Project | Tucson | Innovation/Technology |
| Seligman Schools | Carmel Corn Business | Seligman | Educational Programs |
| Sequoia Pathway Academy | Playground for Physical Activity | Maricopa | School Improvements |
| Shadow Ridge High School | Solar House Project | Surprise | Innovation/Technology |
| Skyline High School | FIRST Robotics | Mesa | Innovation/Technology |
| Sonoran Trails Middle School | Online School Newspaper | Cave Creek | Innovation/Technology |
| Austin Centers for Exceptional Students | ACES Playground | Avondale | School Improvements |
| Village Vista Elementary | After the Bell Technology Class | Phoenix | Innovation/Technology |
| Westar Elementary | Westar Robotics Education | Goodyear | Innovation/Technology |
| Westwood High School | Athletic Department | Mesa | School Improvements |
