A pair of initiatives involving the Clarke County School District are benefiting from a new endowment established at the University of Georgia by an Athens native and UGA alumna, and others will have the opportunity to do the same.

The university’s Office of Public Service & Outreach recently announced the inaugural Bobbi Meeler Sahm Service and Outreach awards, which will benefit town-grown partnerships. Five local projects were selected to receive a total of $32,000 from the endowment, including two projects directly impacting CCSD students:

• the University of Georgia Medical Partnership Grant, in partnership with CCSD and the Athens YMCA, in which project partners will create interactive medical simulations to introduce K-12 students from underrepresented populations to the study of medicine. 

• and the UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, where funds will support virtual-reality learning experiences to educate students in CCSD schools and at Sandy Creek Nature Center on the importance of Georgia’s coastal environment.

“We are very appreciative of the continued partnership with the University of Georgia to support the academic needs of Clarke County students,” said Dr. Xernona Thomas, CCSD Superintendent. “Both of these initiatives will allow our students to use technology to access learning experiences beyond the traditional classroom.”

UGA President Jere W. Morehead directed a $100,000 contribution to the fund using discretionary funds provided to him by the UGA Athletic Association. 

“This award is a visible and powerful representation of the bond between UGA and the Athens-Clarke County community,” said Jennifer Frum, vice president for UGA Public Service and Outreach. “I look forward to hearing the success stories that emerge from these partnerships as a result of the generosity of Bobbi Sahm and President Morehead.” 

Award winners were selected by a committee of representatives from UGA and the Athens community, and applications for the second year of funding will be accepted Oct. 28 through Dec. 9, 2022. 

To learn more about the award and the application process, click here.