Class of 2030 Help Secure Full Edward E. Ford Grant
Thank you to the Class of 2030 and the Middle School science department for helping Greenhill School raise money for an Edward E. Ford Foundation grant.
In December, Greenhill eighth-grade students concluded a unit on density with a hands-on project that blended science and art. They manipulated paint densities and layered them on top of each other while predicting which colors would rise or sink, demonstrating their understanding of density. The finished pieces were vibrant, abstract works that showed density in action through art.
Rather than sending the artwork home, faculty saw an opportunity to use the collection in a more meaningful way – a student-led fundraising initiative supporting a climate or sustainability-related cause. Since Greenhill School had recently received an Edward E. Ford Foundation matching grant to establish a comprehensive environmental science education program, it was clear that it would be the most meaningful way for students to give back.
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“We framed the project as an opportunity for students to invest directly in their own school community and contribute to a lasting legacy that would benefit both current and future Greenhill students through the exciting sustainability initiatives associated with the grant,” said Emma DeVine, Middle School science teacher. The paintings were sold at this year’s Eighth Grade Climate Summit in May. As part of this capstone program, every student participates in an interdisciplinary “Modern Challenges and Solutions” unit that explores environmental issues through both science and history. Each student selects a topic they care about and develops ideas to reduce environmental impact or to enhance local ecology. |
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The Greenhill community is invited to the showcase in May, where students present their research and solutions. And this year, it served as a great place to sell artwork that would support conservation, sustainability, and Greenhill’s future.
Students stepped into leadership roles by volunteering to design promotional materials, create signage, and spread the word across campus. On the day of the Summit, they staffed the booth, engaged with visitors, and shared the purpose behind their work.
In total, approximately 50 to 60 paintings were sold, with the eighth graders’ efforts providing a final boost to a yearlong community fundraising initiative – largely supported by parents, former trustees, and faculty – that raised $100,000 and secured the matching $100,000 grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation.
The grant money will help Greenhill expand hands-on learning opportunities and deepen students’ connection to sustainability. The initiative includes plans for new and enhanced learning spaces such as a greenhouse and a restored Blackland Prairie ecosystem, along with programming designed to integrate environmental study across grade levels and disciplines.
As planning continues, faculty and leadership are working through how best to bring these ideas to life on campus.
Thank you to the entire Class of 2030 and donors for helping the School reach its goal. An extra thanks to the following students who helped run the booth, make posters, or raise awareness of the initiative: Sivan Hahn, Lily Moore, Layla Taiym, Sruthi Thangamuthu, Rhea Vinod, Esther White, Zayla Yousuf, and Laura Zaballa. This would not have been possible without the guidance of Middle School science teachers Emma Devine, Celeste Dominguez, Susan Eve, and Gretchen Pollom, and the eighth-grade history teachers Parker Ainsworth, Paige Ashley, Derek Proter, and Kara Smith.
