MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – The Junior Auxiliary of Meridian announced $26,700 in funding awarded to support 34 classrooms across Lauderdale County, empowering local educators to enhance learning experiences for their students. Hosted at the Meridian Museum of Art, this year’s Teacher Mini Grants reception celebrated innovative projects selected from a competitive pool of 76 completed applications, marking an increase of over 5% from last year.
The grants, ranging in scope and focus, will impact an average of 109 students per project. This year’s recipients include 19 first-time winners, and their projects will reach students across diverse needs and disciplines:
Meridian Public School District: 12 projects (35% of awards)
Lauderdale County School District: 21 projects (61.7% of awards)
Grade Levels Served: 41% elementary, 26.4% middle school, 26.4% high school
Special Populations: 10 projects serve special needs students, 9 serve at-risk students, and 7 support English Language Learners
Curriculum Integration: 41% STEM, 35.2% ELA, 14.7% Music and the Arts, 11.7% Career and Technical Education, and 8.8% Social Studies
Junior Auxiliary of Meridian active member and Teacher Mini Grants Project Chair Ashley Ross expressed her excitement about the impact of the awarded grants. “This year’s recipients submitted projects that are not only innovative but also profoundly student-centered,” said Ross. “The independent panel of judges was highly impressed by the quality of ideas presented, from STEM-based learning and career readiness to inclusive support for English Language Learners and special needs students. It’s an honor to support the creativity and dedication of our local educators.”
This year’s grants will address a broad spectrum of learning opportunities, including family engagement and community involvement, and will span crucial areas such as STEM, English Language Arts, Career and Technical Education, and the Arts. These projects will provide critical support for Meridian and Lauderdale County students, creating environments where teachers can bring unique, impactful lessons to life.
Junior Auxiliary of Meridian active member and Vice President of Service highlighted the wide-reaching impact of this year’s recipients: “This year, 3,728 students—representing one in every five children in Lauderdale County—will benefit from a Junior Auxiliary Teacher Mini Grant, bringing impactful learning experiences to classrooms across our community.”
About the Junior Auxiliary of Meridian
Junior Auxiliary of Meridian is the area’s leading nonprofit organization, dedicated since 1941 to rendering charitable services directly to at-risk and underprivileged children through local schools, community events, and within the homes of families in Lauderdale County. With an active membership of over 50 women, the Junior Auxiliary serves more than 3,500 hours annually across five standing projects that provide critical services to children. These include mentoring for high school girls, activities and mentoring for Hope Village for Children teens, providing school uniforms, personal hygiene items, eye exams, prescription eyeglasses, literacy-building activities, and take-home books for 2nd graders, along with teacher mini-grants. Each year, additional projects are carried out by the provisional class and Crown Club, further expanding Junior Auxiliary’s positive impact.
