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$5,000 MCFF grant funds Bison Days
McCOOK, Neb. — A $5,000 grant from the McCook Community Foundation Fund will help buy supplies for “Bison Days” at McCook High School.
Representatives of the foundation, Ronda Graff, Cindy Huff and Pam Wolford, presented a $5,000 check at the regular McCook School Board meeting Monday night.
“We want to partner with McCook Schools to make it an outstanding school district….you’re already doing a great job and we want to help continue that,” Cindy Huff said.
McCook High School principal Jeff Gross thanked the foundation and said the high school “could not have pulled off ‘Bison Days’” without the funding. It’s the second time the school applied for the grant and the second time they received it, but “We hope to be more self sufficient” in the future, he said.
Gross said 10 reasonably-priced sewing machines were purchased to build up the inventory for “Bison Days.” The two-day event will be Feb. 17-18 and is when MHS students can sign up for mini courses. Classes taught by community members and business owners have been whittled down to 70 from about 120, he said. Classes range from the practical, like how to shop for a car and resume/interview skills, to the fun, such as “Explore Your Inner Baker” and genealogy. They also introduce students to possible career options, like courses on heating/air conditioning and aviation.
Gross said class offerings have expanded and last year, the most popular classes were those on cooking and “anything mechanical.” The biggest challenge is the scheduling, he added.
Based on applications, the MCFF distributes grants to various non-profit organizations in McCook, including those for scholarships, cultural events and community projects. Members of the MCFF Fund Advisory committee are Dale Dueland, Don Harpst, Cindy Huff (chairperson), Bill Graves, Pam Wolford, Doug Skiles, Dennis Berry, Linda Frank, Peggy Bean, Andy Long, Mark Graff and Gavin Harsh. Ronda Graff is the MCFF coordinator.