How Thrasher and KETV's Cash In For School Grants Helped Local Students (2024-2025)

During the 2024–2025 school year, we teamed up with KETV in Omaha to give out $2,500 grants to local schools. One school was picked each month, and each one used the money in their own way — to help students learn, feel supported, and try something new.

The idea was simple: support the people who are helping kids every day. Teachers and school staff know what their students need. We just wanted to give them the funds they needed to do that.

Every month, our team at Thrasher chose one winner from a group of local applicants. We showed up with a big check, and KETV helped share their story with the community.

Here’s what those schools did with the grant.

Fueling a love of reading

Upchurch Elementary – Jennifer Gibbs, Resource Teacher

Big check, big smiles, big impact.

Mrs. Jenn Gibbs, a teacher at Upchurch, kicked off the year as our first grant recipient. She used the funds to expand her library of reading intervention tools, which added new programs to help students in grades K-5 build foundational skills like phonics, fluency, and decoding.

Her goal is to close the reading gap early and give every child the tools to become a confident reader. "These ages are so important to get those early literacy skills mastered," she states. "So this will help give them a little boost." 

Deer Pointe Elementary - Joe Hamilton, 3rd Grade Teacher

The Fremont school has found a way to get the kids excited about reading.

At Deer Pointe, the grant funded a book vending machine that rewards students for good behavior, academic wins, and personal growth. It also supported the school's growing after-school book club, helping over 40 kids get their own copy of the book and a snack to enjoy while reading.

"Showing them the fun of it and having them appreciate how much enjoyment they can get is what'll keep them as lifelong readers," Hamilton said. 

Supporting emotional and sensory needs

Lewis and Clark Middle School – Theresa Selk, Special Education Teacher

Special Education teacher Theresa Selk's grant helped fund flexible seating and sensory tools for nearly 200 students with a wide range of learning needs.

These supports (previously paid for out of pocket by teachers) are now improving focus, comfort, and learning outcomes in her classroom every day. 

"Some students need things to keep their minds engaged in instruction," she said. "If they have their hands moving, their feet moving – it helps them focus better."

Fairview Elementary - Courtney Smeby, Instructional Coach

Kindergarteners at Fairview went to the farm. This grant funded a field trip to Glifford Farm, where students connected what they're learning in the classroom to real-life experiences with animals, ecosystems, and the seasons.

Making room for creativity

Rockbrook Elementary - Madeline Henecke, Music Teacher

We agree. Ukelele's are a step up from the recorder.

Thanks to the grant, Mrs. Henecke introduced ukuleles to over 250 K–6 students. With these new instruments, students are learning musical skills, building confidence, and experiencing the joy of creating music together.

The classroom set includes method books, tuners, and storage – everything they need to make music for years to come.

"It's a little bit more engaging for students than the recorder," Henecke said. "I have the buy-in. We can use it in our performances, we can learn core progressions, and play songs they already know and love."

Bringing STEM to smaller districts

Treynor Community Schools – Randi Endriss, TAG Teacher

In this small district, Mrs. Endriss used the grant to bring more technology – coding robots and STEM tools – into the classroom. Previously, she only had one device to share. But now, she can teach larger groups, expand hands-on learning, and help students discover how technology connects to the world around them.

Three ovens for three schools

Cindi Horning, the Chief Development Officer of CUES Schools, saw the KETV Cash in for Schools on television. "It came at the perfect time because one of our ovens broke down, and the others weren't holding temperature," she said. Holy Name School, All Saints Catholic School, and Sacred Heart School needed replacement convection ovens. These ovens are responsible for heading up students breakfast and lunches. With the three grants, they purchased new commercial-grade ovens that can help feed over 500 students every day. It also supports community events, fundraisers, and parish functions. 

Submit an application for the 2025-26 school year

We partnered with KETV on this program to support local educators, and we couldn’t be more proud of what they’ve done with it.

We’re bringing the grant program back for the 2025–2026 school year. If you’re a teacher, coach, or staff member with a project in mind, click here to apply today.