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From Kitchen to Cafeteria: Jackson County Students Cook Up Innovation in School Nutrition
When Brooke Curtis's food science students at Jackson County High School step into their classroom kitchen, they're not just learning to cook – they're potentially shaping the future of school nutrition across Georgia. Thanks to a $700 grant from HireSmart Cares, these aspiring culinary innovators get hands-on experience in recipe development, mass food production, and…
First Graders Plant the Seeds of Agricultural Learning with Pizza Garden Project
When you ask a first grader where pizza comes from, they might say "the delivery guy" or "the grocery store." But in Stephanie Westhafer's first-grade classroom at West Jackson Elementary School, students are about to discover the real journey from farm to pizza box, thanks to a $500 grant from HireSmart Cares. Westhafer's class is…
Texas Teacher’s Vision for Drone Program Takes Flight with HireSmart Grant
Instructor Terry Andre Hayes has personally paid for drones for students to fly at his alma mater, Evan E. Worthing Early College High School in Houston. The 1979 Worthing graduate and Naval Science instructor at the school sees drones as a pathway to success for his students, but the financial burden of supplying equipment has…
HireSmart helps students dress for career success
HireSmart Cares wants young people to feel pride as they learn career skills while still in high school. That's why the organization aims to help students be "dressed for success." The Madison County-based nonprofit provides scrubs for students in Broad River College and Career Academy's (BRCCA) health science pathway so they can experience the confidence…
HireSmart Covers Cost of Shelving for Construction Class
Danielsville Elementary School construction teacher Christy Hanson recently received a check for $700 from HireSmart Cares Co-founder Mark Lackey. The grant covered the cost of mobile shelving for the school's construction class materials. "The shelves have come in so handy for us," said Hanson, whose fourth and fifth-grade students learn the construction basics. "I can…
AI Takes on New Meaning for Young Madison Co. Farmer
When most people hear "AI," they think of artificial intelligence — chatbots, autonomous vehicles, and smart devices. But for Olivia Braswell of Madison County, Georgia, AI means something entirely different — producing quality livestock. Thanks to a $5,000 grant from HireSmart Cares, a nonprofit supporting the next generation in developing crucial skills, Olivia is…
Epps Uses HireSmart Grant to Prepare for Upcoming Event
Madison County High School junior Westlynn Epps, owner of Works By Westlynn, recently received her $1,500 check from HireSmart Cares for winning first place in the MadiCo Makers Student Entrepreneur Program’s Shark Tank competition. She’s now putting the grant money into action with her business. “I have signed up for an event Sept. 14 out…