At its May 2026 meeting, the Manheim Township Educational Foundation Board of Directors voted to fund 25 grants, totaling $66,652, benefiting students in all nine Manheim Township School District school buildings, grades K-12. Made possible through donations of businesses and individuals, and contributions from EITC participants and MTEF Community Partners, these grants will impact approximately 6,000 Manheim Township students.
Manheim Township School District
- Spot Vision Screener, a hand-held portable vision screening device, to provide rapid and accurate vision screening for K-12 students to help proactively identify vision issues in all learners – including those with language barriers or special learning needs – helping to ensure that every student has the clear sight necessary for academic success and long-term well-being. This grant was funded by the Jean Hoadley Peterson Memorial Fund.
- Karin Lancelotta – All MTSD Students
- Ollie Dreon, Millersville University education professor, will provide the keynote presentation at the MTSD Staff Kickoff meeting in August 2026. Dr. Dreon’s message will focus on developing best teaching practices by utilizing tools such as instructional technology, online pedagogy, and artificial intelligence in education.
- William Gillis – All MTSD Staff
Manheim Township High School
- A class set of MANIKEN® student models and clay to provide Anatomy students with hands-on, 3D learning opportunities that connect textbook images to how structures relate to one another in the human body. This set will complement the sets previously funded by an MTEF grant to accommodate increased student enrollment in these courses.
- Allison Noecker & Rebecca Hyde – Grades 11-12, Anatomy & Medical Technology and Advanced Anatomy courses
- Support for the Manheim Township High School Quiz Bowl Varsity Team’s participation in the High School National Championship Tournament in Atlanta, GA in May 2026. This grant is funded by a private donation.
- Dakota Stump & Kaitlin Rock – Grade 9-12, Extracurricular Activity
- Permanent outdoor Wireless Access Point at Journey Field to establish a “point-to-multipoint” wireless bridge from Journey Field to MTHS allowing for better game film and live stream recordings for all athletic teams that use the field. This grant is funded by APR Supply Co.
- Dan Lyons – Grades 9-12, Extracurricular Activity
- Student Grant: Start-up funds to support the creation of a DECA chapter at MTHS. DECA students plan projects, prepare for competitions, and collaborate with local partners to build skills in communication, problem-solving and business/management.
- Shiven Patel – Grades 9-12, Extracurricular Activity
- Student Grant: Supplies for students in the National Art Honor Society to use to plan and create an original mural on the wall between the two highs school art classrooms.
- Piper Fogleman – Grades 11-12, Extracurricular Activity
Manheim Township Middle School
- 9 Square in the Air equipment to help expand movement opportunities and introduce new net/wall games for all middle school physical education students.
- Tesla Atkins – Grades 7-8, All Students
- Card games and board games to bring structured, engaging fun to student lunch periods and help foster positive social interaction, encourage teamwork, and build essential character skills in a relaxed, welcoming environment.
- Andrew Hull – Grades 7-8, All Students
Landis Run Intermediate School
- Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Classroom Resources Kits with authentic-feeling reproduction artifacts to help spark curiosity and deepen historical knowledge as students explore early Native American cultures, colonial life, and the American Revolution.
- Emily Laughlin, Alexis Yakstis-Startoni, Jessica Mack, & Renee Fisher – Grade 5, All Students
Manheim Township Elementary Schools
- Start-up supplies and equipment to support the launch of Invention Convention Clubs where fourth grade students explore the invention process as they create a polished and functioning prototype of an invention to help meet a human need and then compete in a local Invention Convention competition.
- Melanie Stoltzfus, Kiersten Mullen, Meghan Nephin, Lacy Plumbo – Grade 4 Extracurricular Activity, Neff, Nitrauer, & Reidenbaugh Elementary Schools
- Curated collection of books to pair with engaging activities to help bridge the emotional-academic gap for gifted learners by validating their unique experiences and helping them navigate the intense feelings that come with advanced intellect.
- Kayla Zapcic, Kristin Marx, & Ginger Green – Grades K-4, Gifted Support
- The Magic of Erick Hershey’s “Ameri-Ca-Dabra” assembly will blend magic, storytelling, and audience participation to bring American history and civics to life helping students make meaningful connections to social studies and ELA content.
- Amanda Munson & Kira Yeager – Grades K-4, Brecht Elementary
- A variety of picture books and chapter books for Bobcat Leaders (older students) to read aloud to younger students while riding on the bus to and from school as part of the Brecht Bus Buddies program.
- Amanda Munson & Kira Yeager – Grades K-4, Brecht Elementary
- A copy of the book, I Need My Monster, for each student to kickoff summer reading during a school-wide celebration where students read alongside teachers, friends, and homeroom buddies. This grant is funded by the Louise Engle Memorial Fund.
- Amanda Munson & Kira Yeager – Grades K-4, Brecht Elementary
- Supplies to maintain and enhance the Brecht Garden, a unique living and learning classroom that benefits all Brecht students and staff, and to support an after-school garden club and summer camp program for Brecht K-4 students to learn more about gardening, the environment, and environmental science.
- Nicole Siegel – Grades K-4, Brecht Elementary
- The Ag Van will provide an interactive, hands-on STEM learning experience for all Brecht students through a variety of lessons that directly tie to the ELA and science curriculums across all grade levels.
- Elizabeth Leese & Amanda Munson – Grades K-4, Brecht Elementary
- Expert-led environmental education lessons and outdoor field experiences for students in grades 2-4 to help empower students to not only understand their environment – including the Bucher Stream – but to actively love, protect and be engaged in it.
- Carrie Denlinger – Grades 2-4, Bucher Elementary
- ViewSonic ViewBoard Touchscreen Monitor and cart for an Emotional Support classroom to help serve as a visual anchor for processes and tasks, transition cues, fair-turn selections, volume monitoring, and passage of time as well as an interactive learning enhancement with on-screen manipulatives that engage learners while also helping to strengthen gross motor skills and social skills like sharing, taking turns, and collaboration.
- Rachel Brinton – K-4 Emotional Support Classroom, Bucher Elementary
- Materials to create dramatic play, building and engineering, and collaborative play areas within an empty space where structured play opportunities will help young learners strengthen social-emotional skills including cooperation, self-regulation, and empathy while also supporting language development and early STEM thinking.
- Katelynn Shearer & Devon Reichl – Grades K-2, Neff Elementary
- Hands-on STEM building supplies, such as Brain Flakes, MagnaTiles, and Bristle Blocks, for students to use during math stations, morning work bins, writing, and “unplugged” time to help build cognitive thinking skills, fine motor skills, creativity and imagination, language development, and social skills.
- Allyson Weitzel, Jill Milton, Shannon Wright, & Madison Gillman – Grade 1, Nitrauer Elementary
- Hands-on STEM building supplies, such as wooden blocks, magnetic building sticks, and Brain Flakes, and building challenge card activities for students to use to strengthen problem-solving, collaboration, and critical thinking skills as well as written expression as they detail their plans and reflect on outcomes in their journals.
- Tracy Bartow – Grade 1, Reidenbaugh Elementary
- The Gretna Theatre’s “The Science of Stuff” assembly will transport students into “The Morning Mish-Mash Show” where hosts Chad and Nina interview thrilling guests such as movie stars, scientists, and bands that use songs and dancing to explore matter and its properties.
- Elizabeth Edwards – Grades K-4, Schaeffer Elementary
- Visiting Artist Program: Contemporary dance company LUNA will present a dynamic performance to introduce students to contemporary dance. After, students will participate in grade level dance workshops to explore creative movement as a form or expression and then learn and perform a dance with grade level peers.
- Alyssa Sposito, Natalie Mundorf, & Andy Martin – Grades K-4, Bucher Elementary
- Visiting Artist Program: Artist Peter Stevenson will lead Neff Elementary students in an exploration of the history and importance of mask/totem creations across multi-cultural communities and civilizations. After, each student will design and create a mask representing their own unique personal identity using animal/natural imagery as personal expression.
- Taylor Good & Anna Mitchell – Grades K-4, Neff Elementary
Additional Awards Provided by Memorial Funds
- James L. and Jane Louise Wertz Freshman Award – James L. and Jane Louise Wertz Memorial Fund
- Sally Hawthorne Art Education Award – Sally Hawthorne Art Education Fund