Lewisville ISD Education Foundation Grant recipient receives National endowment for the Humanities grant to study in China

Lewisville ISD Education Foundation Grant Recipient and Lewisville HS Art Teacher, Nicole Franczvai, Selected as One of Twenty-Five Teachers to Study Five Weeks in China.

Lewisville, TX, May 20, 2009: Nicole Franczvai, LEF multi-year grant recipient and LHS art teacher, was one of twenty-five teachers selected from educators across the country to participate in the China Institute's 2009 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Summer Institute, From Chang'an to Xi'an: Ancient Capital to Modern Metropolis . The program, which extends from July 6 through August 7, will allow Ms. Franczvai the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of China's history and culture and infuse that into her classroom curriculum. As for the benefit this study will have on her LHS students, she replied, “The students bring the world to me….so now I'm going to be able to share my world with them. I hope to bring back information and experiences that will help my students understand some of the modern cultural developments of China and how they relate and build upon the ancient culture and traditions.”

With many ideas but limited classroom budgets, Ms. Franczvai has long been a proponent of seeking outside sources for funding. Not only has she applied for and been awarded three different LEF grants totaling $2,975 but she also has been the recipient of one other NEH grant, a four-week study of Latino/Latina visual arts and writings in San Antonio in 2002.

When asked what inspires her to apply for these grants, she commented, “I get inspired . . . because I have all these ideas swimming around in my head, and I need resources to make them happen. So that's why I always write an LEF grant. LEF has allowed me to infuse my curriculum with projects and supplies . . . share specific interests with my students and broaden their experiences.”

By providing classroom grant assistance to teachers, counselors, and librarians through the Teacher Grant program (applications due June 5), as well as support for campus-wide initiatives via the Campus Grant program, LEF supports a mission of excellence in education within LISD. To learn more, contact the LEF offices at 469-948-2022.

The Lewisville ISD Education Foundation is a passionate group of community volunteers dedicated to investing in the future of our children. Founded in 1990, LEF is a public, non-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation that raises money to encourage innovative teaching and higher education for the 13 cities served by LISD. From its inception, LEF has awarded over $1,442,073 in different program areas and given $940,525 in senior scholarships to 1,619 students.

Every student needs a good foundation – Come help us build it!