Category: Education

Plano’s Heritage Farmstead Museum is often filled with small children on school field trips or young families enjoying the wonders of the four-acre historic site, which is nestled in the center of the city. But folks at the Farmstead are targeting a slightly different demographic with the organization’s senior-focused program “Young at Heart: 55+ Exceeding the Limit”.

“Young at Heart: 55+ Exceeding the Limit” is a Heritage Farmstead Museum educational program designed specifically for seniors. Program presentations, conducted on targeted days once per each from 10:00 a.m. – noon, will feature a variety of topics from vegetable gardening, music, history and much more.

“This exciting, popular program allows all of us at the Heritage Farmstead Museum to reach out to another sector of our community to provide educational opportunities, fellowship and fun,” said Heritage Farmstead Museum Director of Development Kathy Strobel.

Upcoming Young at Heart: 55+ Exceeding the Limit programs include:

May 14: Herbs of the Prairie featuring a talk on herbs used on the prairie, along with samples of foods featuring those herbs. This program will also include a take-home craft where guests will plant herbs in small mason jars.

June 11: Hydroponic Gardening – Come learn a new way to grow tomatoes in North Texas from pioneer hydro-farmer, Ben Von Kennel. Hydroponics is a new method being used now by commercial growers here in North Texas. Lettuce and tomatoes can now be grown all year long at local farms and even at home with a hydroshed using no soil, only air, sun and a balanced nutrient solution.

July 9: Everyone Has a Story – The North 40 Storytellers Guild will tell short, five minute stories based on their lives. Attendees will be given the chance to talk about ideas for their own short stories in smaller groups.

August 13: Summer Tea – Historic Cooking Demonstration – An expert on historic cooking will prepare and discuss fare for a Victorian Summer tea, including an authentic watermelon cake. Attendees will be able to taste each dish.

September 10: Victorian Magic Lantern Show and Blacksmith Demo – The Victorian Magic Lantern Show was a precursor to the modern day movies. Hand painted slides are projected, and even appear to be animated. Beth and Mark Ayers will present their show set to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, “The Village Blacksmith.” We will also have a blacksmith doing a demonstration in our blacksmith shop.

October 8: Dallas Banjo Band and Ice Cream Social – Dallas banjo band is a 20+ piece band comprised of banjo players. They perform everything from Rhapsody in Blue, to Sweet Caroline, to Elvira! There will be an ice cream social along with this program.

Pre-registration for each class is $6.00 per person. Groups of eight or more, $4 per person. Guests may also purchase a 55+ season package of seven programs for $35. Each program is limited to 50 registrants. Online registration is available at www.heritagefarmstead.org or by calling 972-881-0140.

Pre-registration deadline is midnight the Thursday prior to each program, but walk up registration is also permitted if there is space available.

ABOUT THE HERITAGE FARMSTEAD MUSEUM
The Heritage Farmstead Museum, a four-acre historic site consisting of a restored, 14-room 1891 Victorian farmhouse with its original outbuildings, interprets rural life on the North Texas prairie between 1890 and 1925. The museum provides tours, field trips and programs for 35,000 visitors each year. For more information, call 972.881.0140 or visit www.heritagefarmstead.org.

Faith Lutheran School in Plano, Texas will be conducting an open house on Sunday, Apr. 22, 2018 at 3 p.m. to showcase the school’s K-12 and early childhood preschool programs.

Families interested in the school will meet the headmaster and teaching staff, tour the facilities and enjoy light refreshments.

Faith Lutheran School is located at 1701 E. Park Blvd in Plano. For more information please call 972.423.7448 or visit www.flsplano.org

ABOUT FAITH LUTHERAN SCHOOL

Faith Lutheran School is fully accredited and currently provides classes from pre-school three-year-olds through the twelfth grade. School curriculum is based on the classical model of education. The school’s educational program also includes both sports and the fine arts. In 1971, the congregation of Faith Lutheran Church in Plano, Texas established a four-year-old preschool for children of the congregation. Since then, the school has grown and opened enrollment to others in the community on a tuition basis. To learn more about Faith Lutheran School, please visit the school’s web site at www.flsplano.org or call 972.423.7448.

The Junior League of Dallas announced in a press release that it awarded $40,000 in college scholarships at 5^th annual Women LEAD (Learn · Excel · Achieve · Dream) Scholarship Program on Mar. 22. The annual program aids female high school students in pursuing their dreams of higher education and creates opportunities for future women leaders. Competitors had a chance at the grand prize – a $15,000 college scholarship – or a second place $10,000 scholarship, a third place $5,000 scholarship, a fourth place $4,000 scholarship or one of six $1,000 scholarships for fifth through tenth place winners. From the applications received, 10 finalists were selected to compete in a speech competition and awards ceremony, which was held at the Junior League of Dallas Headquarters.

The Women LEAD Scholarship Program was established in 2013 in collaboration with Mary Kay Inc. and inspired by its founder Mary Kay Ash. Dr Pepper Snapple Group came on board as a sponsor in 2017.

The 2018 program included three Dallas high schools – Emmett J. Conrad High School, Thomas Jefferson High School and South Oak Cliff High School. Judges of the 2018 program included: Jennifer Tobin, Junior League of Dallas President, Julia A. Simon, Mary Kay Inc. Chief Legal Officer, Judge Amber Givens-Davis, 282nd Judicial District Court Judge and Nisha Shah, Dr Pepper Snapple Group Associate Brand Manager. WFAA Anchor, Kara Sewell served as the emcee.

*Photo Courtesy of Mary Kay

ABOUT JUNIOR LEAGUE OF DALLAS

The Junior League of Dallas cultivates leaders who collectively address the critical needs of the community. Founded in 1922, the JLD is one of the largest Junior Leagues in the world, as well as the largest and oldest training organization for women in Dallas. Active members range in age from 22 to 49 with more than 85 percent of women employed outside of the home. The JLD provides leadership opportunities to over 5,000 women each year through more than 26,000 cumulative hours of experiential and formal training. Uniquely member-run, the JLD provides over 100,000 hours in volunteer service and $1 million in funding to area nonprofits each year. For more information, visit the organization’s website.

Rockwall ISD Agriculture Students recently donated a custom-made fire pit to Rockwall Women’s League to be auctioned off at their annual gala Apr. 7.

Ethan Moore and Caleb Scott, both 11^th graders at Rockwall HS, built the fire pit.

“It took us about two days to build,” said Caleb in a press release. “We tried really hard on it and in the end, it came out great.”

The Rockwall Women’s League and is comprised of 90 women who raise money each year for non-profit grants and student scholarships.

“Last year we were proud to award $120,000 in scholarships to Rockwall ISD students,” said Mary Bierds, 2018 Gala Publicity Chair. “We’re hoping to beat that number this year.”

Pictured Above (Left to Right): Ethan Moore and Caleb Scott

ABOUT ROCKWALL WOMEN’S LEAGUE

The commitment of Rockwall Women’s League is to unite and promote the Rockwall area through service to the community and through the initiation and support of civic, educational, and social events. Find out more on the organization’s website.

On Friday, March 23^rd Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and current Dallas Maverick Seth Curry along with the Dallas Mavericks, Seth Curry Foundation, education technology innovator EVERFI, Inc and presenting sponsor 5Miles visited local students at Young Women’s STEAM Academy at Balch Spring Middle School to host their very first business pitch competition in celebration of students participating in the Venture – Entrepreneurial ExpeditionTM, a new educational initiative designed to teach students to think entrepreneurially about business and life. In all, there were six groups of students who gave business pitches to the judges.

Venture – Entrepreneurial ExpeditionTM is a digital course that uses case studies, interactive business simulations and personal development activities to teach important business skills.  Students develop a personalized plan for their individual business, along with a roadmap for academic and career success. Thanks to the support from the Dallas Mavericks, the Seth Curry Foundation and presenting sponsor 5Miles, the interactive program has expanded to add six more schools, for a total of ten schools and nearly 2,000 middle school students throughout the DFW Metroplex participating.

Photo Courtesy of Young Women’s STEAM Academy at Balch Springs Middle School Facebook Page

“What I always tell people, if you look around you, somebody came up with the idea for everything that we see, and there’s nothing to prevent you from being the next person that comes up with the next great idea,” Cuban said, as shared in a piece on the Mav’s website. “The only person that can stop you is you.”

“I just try to encourage them and I also try to tell people it doesn’t matter how many times you fail, you only need to be right one time and then everybody tells you you’re an overnight success. To get them started and failing early and learning and succeeding and going through the whole process, I think that’s how the future stars, the future Elon Musk and the future Bill Gates, are born.”

Plano’s Heritage Farmstead Museum will host its 8th annual Victorian Eggstravaganza and Spring Festival this Saturday, Mar. 31.  The event will feature an egg hunt with more than 6,000 eggs filled with prizes for children ages eight and under. Guests of all ages are welcome to participate in the joys of spring on the Blackland Prairie with the shearing of the Farmstead’s sheep and a variety of other family-friendly activities.

“We will have a baby animal photo booth, so you can get up close and personal with baby chicks, lambs and bunnies,” said Heritage Farmstead Museum Executive Director M’Lou Hyttinen in a press release. “And visitors can meet Juliette and Stella, who are the first breeding sheep on the farm since 1960. Juliette and Stella are expecting their own baby lambs in April.”

The event will also include hands-on demonstrations, historic exhibits, hay rides, concessions, face painting, children’s crafts, house tours, exhibits, historical activities and more.

The Victorian Eggstravaganza and Spring Festival event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Egg hunts for children four and under start at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Egg hunts for children ages five to eight years start at 11:00 a.m. and noon.  Children are encouraged to bring their own Easter baskets.

Children participating in the 2017 Easter Egg Hunt at Heritage Farmstead Museum

In partnership with the Vintage Radio & Phonograph Society, Inc., Heritage Farmstead Museum is also debuting its new spring exhibit, titled ‘The Golden Age of Radio in Texas: from the humble crystal sets on the farm to the birth of the transistor at Texas Instruments,’ which features an amazing display of antique radios and memorabilia.

Online pre-registration is required to secure egg hunt participation. Egg hunts fill up on a first-come, first-served basis. Once early times are full, spots for the second egg hunts will be filled. Tickets are $7 per child, which includes admission and egg hunt.  Adults and guests not participating in the egg hunt may purchase tickets for $5.  Event concessions and photo booth will be charged separately. Cash and all credit cards accepted.

Registration for this event is available at https://tinyurl.com/FarmsteadSpring2018 or by calling 972.881.0140.

This event is sponsored in part by the City of Plano. All photo booth proceeds benefit the Farmstead’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) Ammie Wilson Buyer’s Club, which supports Plano FFA students.

ABOUT THE HERITAGE FARMSTEAD MUSEUM

The Heritage Farmstead Museum, a four-acre historic site consisting of a restored, 14-room 1891 Victorian farmhouse with its original outbuildings, interprets rural life on the North Texas prairie between 1890 and 1925. The museum provides tours, field trips and programs for 35,000 visitors each year.  For more information, call 972.881.0140 or visit www.heritagefarmstead.org.

The University of North Texas’ Department of Public Administration will offer a Bachelor of Science degree in nonprofit leadership studies beginning with the 2018 fall semester. The news was announced via the organization’s website.

The department created a full bachelor’s degree program in nonprofit leadership studies in response to both student demand and increased need for management professionals at nonprofit organizations, said Laura Keyes, lecturer in the Department of Public Administration and degree coordinator.

“Nonprofits are a vital part of our community and solve important social issues. With this degree, students will have the opportunity to make a career out of making a difference,” Keyes said.

The bachelor’s degree includes 33 hours of core courses offered in the Department of Public Administration; 15 hours of supporting courses, which include courses in UNT’s Department of Communication Studies, Department of Management and Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism; and nine hours of electives. Topics for the courses include community resources for nonprofits, financial management, leadership theory and practice for volunteer managers, mediation, philanthropy and fundraising, proposal writing and grants administration and public speaking.

The courses will be offered in a mix of online and face-to-face classes on the UNT campus in Denton. Students will receive practical nonprofit management experience in a required internship, Keyes said. In addition, she said, students will be well positioned to pursue graduate work in management or public administration, including in UNT’s master of public administration degree program, which offers a specialization in nonprofit management.

For more information, visit www.unt.edu and click on “Undergrad Degree” under “Program Offerings,” or contact Laura Keyes at 940-891-6790 or laura.keyes@unt.edu.

ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS

UNT is a major public research university deeply committed to advancing educational excellence and preparing students to become thoughtful, engaged citizens of the world. This is accomplished through a broad and balanced array of programs where well-prepared students and dedicated scholars and artists collaborate with our local and global communities in the creation, integration, application, and dissemination of knowledge. In this way, UNT creates an enriched and sustainable future for our students, state, nation and world. Find out more on UNT’s website.

Dallas-based Illuminate STEM recently received a $20,000 grant from PPG Foundation to help the organization encourage, empower and equip more than 1,000 elementary, middle and high school students from underrepresented communities through industry-relevant science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) training and education.

“One of the PPG Foundation’s top priorities is supporting initiatives related to science and math education,” said Robb Butler, PPG senior regional sales manager, Dallas and Fort Worth markets. “By enabling students to explore these areas and gain pertinent skills necessary to succeed in technical fields such as advanced manufacturing, we can help them gain invaluable experience and their interest in STEM careers. We’re excited to be a member of the Dallas community and engage with Illuminate STEM and the students it serves.”

The grant will enable the nonprofit to serve an additional 500 students.

There are 25 PPG Paints stores in Dallas, and PPG is in the process of opening 16 additional stores. PPG recently presented representatives from Illuminate STEM with the grant at the grand opening of the PPG Paints store in White Rock, Texas.

*Photo courtesy of the Illuminate STEM Facebook page.

ABOUT ILLUMINATE STEM

Illuminate STEM is a local response to a national issue and its mission is to ENCOURAGE, EMPOWER and ENABLE K-12 students from underrepresented communities to innovate the technical future.

​Illuminate STEM inspires and prepares students to compete and succeed in high paying careers related to Science, Engineering, Technology, and Math through career exploration, entrepreneurial endeavors and even global competition. The organization connects students to the skills and insight they need to leverage STEM careers to build their best lives.

Find out more on the organization’s website.