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The Hawkins County School System has received a $64,000 mini-grant from Utrust to fund requests from system teachers and administrators. Hawkins County is one of 51 school systems in Tennessee that will collectively receive $1 million in teaching and learning grants this month from Utrust.

Debbi Pressnell, grant writer for Hawkins County Schools, requested the funds from Utrust for the following projects:

• Mini-grant fund – $14,000

• Retiree appreciation – $3,500

• Stage curtains for Cherokee and Volunteer high school auditoriums – $20,000

• Purchase generator for Clinch School water system – $20,000

• Hawkins Elementary School playground equipment – $2,500

• Various health service needs – $1,000

• Surgoinsville Middle School theater equipment and/or instruments – $3,000

“We are pleased to fund these projects that we believe will make a big difference to students and staff in Hawkins County Schools,” Utrust Administrator Dr. Dan Tollett said.

“We deeply appreciate Utrust making this mini grant available to our schools,” Hawkins County Director of Schools Matt Hixson said. “We feel very fortunate that they have provided funds for some of the things our schools really need. We make the most of every dollar we can get but we still have needs that we don’t have funds for. Our goal is to provide the best possible educational experiences for our students.”

Utrust is an organization that assists school systems in Tennessee with unemployment issues and in recognizing, supporting and appreciating school employees.

It sponsors the Utrust Appreciation Program, a student leadership program that seeks to help students recognize and express appreciation to people who make their lives better each day.

In November, Hawkins County Schools received an award from Utrust for having the best appreciation program in East Tennessee.

Teresa Drinnon is the system coordinator for the Utrust Appreciation Program in Hawkins County and she works closely with Pressnell to identify needs with which this grant can assist.