Kenneth Westgate, Jr., Judy Kelly, Karen Jamann, Dolores Fartel, and Marisa Strunk

The team’s innovative teaching idea, “Little Green Fingers,” focuses on creating a garden project to provide younger students at St. Theresa School plant science experience as an integral part of their Science Technology Religion Engineering Arts and Mathematics (STREAM) program. With the Voya grant, the team will provide greenhouse outdoor gardens as well as an indoor hydroponic growing station. Students involved in the project will start plants from seeds and seedlings, create greenhouse soil mixes and learn about soil and water conservation and soilless plant growing techniques. Students will monitor the use of natural fertilizers and water needed for healthy growth and will be responsible for managing the environments for the harvesting of the greenhouse materials.