Oconto, WI (December 8, 2011) — Oconto High School was recently awarded a technology grant in the amount of $5,000 from the Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED).

FRED in cooperation with the Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative (RTFC) created the Technology Grants for Rural Schools program to help meet the growing need for innovative technology in the classroom. The grant program, now in its tenth year, awards funds to public schools that are working to increase the use of technology to enhance the learning experience. Nsight Telservices was the local service provider that nominated Oconto High School for this grant. Only seven schools across the nation were selected to receive funding.

Oconto High School will be purchasing a portable white board, laptop and  interactive remotes to rotate between classrooms. Nsight Telservices in Abrams will also be donating four Motorola Xoom™ tablets to the school to enhance their technology upgrade.

To be eligible for the grant, a public school must be located in the service area of rural telecommunications provider, complete an application and receive a letter of nomination from a local member of OPASTCO (Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies).

$50,000 given to three local schools from the Cellcom project

(December 2, 2011) –Xavier High School was announced as the winner of Cellcom’s Project Innovate today. The school will receive $30,000 from Cellcom for the purchase of classroom technology. In October, Cellcom invited 16 public and private high schools in the Fox Cities to participate in the community voting challenge; nine schools chose to participate.

Appleton West High School took second place in Project Innovate and will receive $15,000. In third place, receiving $5,000, was Neenah High School. Each of the remaining schools that participated in the challenge will receive a Motorola Xoom™ tablet for classroom use.

“As a committed advocate for youth, education and technology, Cellcom was extremely proud to bring Project Innovate to the Fox Cities in 2011,” said Brighid Riordan, director of public affairs at Cellcom. “The major objective for this community voting program was to bring the latest in classroom technology to our local schools. As a company, we believe that providing these tools to teachers and students will inspire innovation and increase academic achievement.”