The Munster Education Foundation awarded nearly $125,000 in grants during the 2025-2026 school year, a record total for the foundation.
The Foundation said last week the grants ranged from an original musical composition to robots in kindergarten classes.
All five Munster schools received grants estimated to impact 18,218 student engagements. Many students in the district of 4,017 will be impacted by more than one grant.
“This record-breaking investment is a reflection of what makes the Munster community so special,” said Lynn Eplawy, president of the Munster Education Foundation.
The recent grants include:
• A $5,000 grant to the Munster High School choirs to commission an original work, “Come to Me” by Dr. Marques L.A. Garrett, which the choirs will perform during their trip to Ireland in June.
• Video recording and audio equipment for Munster High School business classes that were instrumental in helping two groups of students place in the Top 100 of a global pitch competition.
• Ozobots and BeeBots that help every student in kindergarten through fifth grade at Eads Elementary learn how to manipulate physical robots, build circuits and design solutions.
• Tools to strengthen math fluency, literacy and understanding of science at the elementary level, from a Rocket Math fluency program at Eads Elementary to a Generation Genius program at Elliott Elementary to EdPuzzle tools at Frank Hammond Elementary.
• A mobile planetarium experience at Wilbur Wright Middle School.
• Freeze-drying equipment for a student-run Snack Shack at Munster that teaches students business, marketing and food production skills.
• Funding for all five robotics teams across Munster schools, enabling the teams to purchase kits and supplies for competitions.
• Tools that bolster opportunities for exceptional achiever success, from AI-powered, evidence-based teaching software at Wilbur Wright Middle School to programs that help ASPIRE students integrate with all learners at Eads Elementary.
Munster School Board President Dr. Ingrid Schwarz Wolf praised the Foundation for its three decades of contributions and valued its work for improving academic outcomes.
“Its steadfast commitment has helped transform creative ideas into meaningful learning opportunities, enriching the educational experience for thousands of students. The Foundation’s continued investment in innovative programs, classroom opportunities, and student experiences has played an important role in helping position the School Town of Munster among the top-performing school districts in Indiana,” she said.
