AwesomeStPaul is pleased to award our second January 2025 grant to Career Pathways, a 6-12 school in St. Paul. Our grant will be used to put on their school's first-ever school play including materials for props. Congratulations!

According to applicant Brittany Schmidtknecht, "Our English teacher was gone a number of days and as a co-teacher I filled in. I know we have struggling readers at school who are skeptical to read around others. I found a few short skits and had the students perform them. Watching them was a surprise. They excelled and came alive! Kids who never talked in class were up talking and ready to perform in front of the class. They asked to do more skits and the next class period and following week. The whole class talked about it and about how much they enjoyed it. By their second skit, they were making props and talking louder and more confident. The next day, I had them write their own skits and they were funny and full of charisma. I told the students they should ask a teacher to sponsor an elective class that could put on a longer production or a play. They then asked me and I couldn't say no. Listening to them read was so moving!"