Have you ever dreamt of going on a mission trip or attending a skills based summer camp? The Parkway Alumni Association Granting Dreams program is designed to turn your dreams into realities to further your learning or to explore new opportunities.
Any current Parkway student, kindergarten through 12th grade, is eligible to apply for a Dream Grant. Grants of financial support of up to $250 are awarded, as well as grants of community resources and/or alumni support.
In seventh grade, sophomore Clara Sun submitted an application for money to attend a research program at UMSL called STARS, hoping to learn more about science.
“I wanted to apply for a students research program called STARS,” Sun said, “Granting Dreams helped me get the $85 for the entry fee and helped me realize I don’t want to go into research.”
In sixth grade, junior Elizabeth Newell sent in an application to receive money for a figure skating clinic and was awarded the money via Granting Dreams.
“I applied for a figure skating clinic. Figure skating was an extremely expensive sport and the grant was really helpful,” Newell said. “Last year I was funded to compete in a solo dance that I choreographed.”
Hoping to learn about her favorite zoo animals, freshman Ronnie Bueltmann applied for the grant so she could be a Zookeeper for a Day.
“I applied for a class at the Zoo called ‘Zookeeper for a Day’,” Bueltmann said, “It definitely gave me a sense of responsibility when caring for other things. Being able to learn about animals and their habits as well as how to take care of them was an awesome experience.”
Bueltmann’s experience taught her the responsibility of caring for others and inspired her to become a preschool teacher.
Dream applications that are intended for gaining knowledge and skill for future careers, purely recreational use or dreams associated with political or religious intention will not be funded. All Granting Dreams applications must be received by no later than Friday, Feb. 6, 2015 at 4 p.m. to be considered. Click here to download an application.
![Adding a tray of canned corn to the pile, junior Michael Collop assists in transporting donations for the Holiday Food Drive. The event, hosted schoolwide from Dec. 10-17, raised over 5,000 food items to deliver to the Parkway Food Pantry, helping several families in need. "[The drive] is a great thing for us to do because you're giving to those who are less fortunate, and it helps provide for people who can't provide for themselves. [The] competition is always fun, too. It was fun to be in [social studies teacher Jeff] Chazen’s class, because he always gets worked up over [the competition]. He made it exciting, and was always convincing us to turn in cans for the drive,” Collop said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/feature-photo-unsung-2.png)
![Principal John McCabe announces that Jeffrey Chazen has won Teacher of the Year. Chazen was discussing freedom of speech with his AP Government class when the door opened and administrators rushed in. “[I was] extremely happy and humbled, but mostly shock[ed]. I've been here longer than any other teacher, so I know most of the people on the list of Teachers of the Year, and they are amazing teachers themselves,” Chazen said. “It's just nice to be on the list with them, including [social studies teacher Kristen] Collins, who is the only other social studies teacher who has won Teacher of the Year. It was nice to bring something back to the social studies department.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSC_0021-1-2-1200x801.jpg)
![Striking a pose following their group dance, the 2024 Mr. Longhorn contestants welcome their audience to the show. Throughout the night, the nine competitors participated in an occupational section, skits for the talent portion and a fashion attire show before finalists were interviewed. “It's a fun time getting to hang out with my friends and doing [our] acts. I think I'm most excited for my performance with [seniors Bart Connors, Gavin Hamlin and Colin Hughes]. I like that I get to dance a little bit. I don't think I'm very good, but I'm gonna try my best to put on a show,” contestant and senior Henry Wild said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DSC_9759-1200x798.jpg)
![Kicking off dress rehearsal, Mr. Longhorn contestant and senior Carson Hughes goes over the group routine alongside other competitors. With just two days of practice, all participants learned the entirety of their introductory dance, chose an occupation to embody and crafted skits for the show. “The best part of this [whole thing] was learning the dance and just practicing with the guys. We [have to] try not to laugh the whole time, but we're having a lot of fun,” Hughes said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_5112-1-e1732164157549-1200x812.jpg)
![Blending together a concoction for a science experiment, science teacher Joel Anderson scares his students by bringing excitement and thrill into his classroom for his annual Halloween show. It took about six weeks for Anderson to set up his classroom for the show. “It’s pure terror. I came up with this idea a couple decades ago to do something fun for Halloween. So I pretend to be this mad scientist [that creates] a Frankenstein-like creature [with the class], learning a little bit of science along the way and [then ending] with a laser show. It’s just for fun; entertainment value,” Anderson said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0021.JPG_-1200x800.jpg)
![Standing with girls cross country team mascot Pump the pumpkin, senior Sydney Etchason laughs with her teammates. Before the team’s senior night, Etchason undertook an odyssey to recover the pumpkin, which had been stolen by boys cross country. “We went through practice, and then a little birdie told me that it was in [senior] Emmett [Vernon's] car. I [offered Vernon] $50 to give us our pumpkin back, and we got Pump back,” Etchason said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0002-1-1200x800.jpg)
