Hudson’s Bay High School teacher Amy Carpenter was awarded $12,000 to advance agriculture science education. The grant will be used for curriculum, equipment and technology through a program called Curriculum for Agriculture Science Education, or CASE. The funds will benefit projects through the school’s natural resources courses, which address environmental, economic and social issues related to soil, water, fish, wildlife, plants, timber and energy resources.

Said Carpenter, “The opportunity for students to help other students, and perhaps even their own families, combat hunger is extremely powerful. Students will gain many educational skills through this project, but more importantly they will have the opportunity to demonstrate and practice compassion and empathy through community service.”

The courses are part of the Architecture, Construction and Environmental Services magnet program at Hudson’s Bay. Students also are encouraged to participate in FFA as an extension of their classroom learning and may participate in competitions, leadership events and community service projects.

Managed by the National Association of Agriculture Educators, CASE is an interdisciplinary curriculum with a strong focus on science, technology, engineering and math. In 2018, the Washington state Legislature prioritized $1.75 million for local school districts to buy CASE equipment and technology in an ongoing effort to advance agriculture education courses. These grants are administered through the Washington FFA Foundation.