Jarrett, Polston Win Lilly Fellowship Grants
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Jarrett, Polston Win Lilly Fellowship Grants
By David [email protected]
Jarrett, a sixth-grade teacher at Harrison Elementary School, received $25,000 from the grant program to increase his knowledge and skills in astronomy. Polston, Harrison's principal, received $8,000 to follow the Oregon Trail.[[In-content Ad]]Funded by Lilly, the program enables teachers, principals, guidance counselors and school librarians from all over Indiana to take time to pursue their personal interests, explore subjects that intrigue them and just "get away," according to a Lilly press release. This year's group includes nine distinguished fellows, including Jarrett, who each receive up to $25,000; the remaining 120 each receive $8,000 for their activities.
Out-of-state judges make recommendations for these awards. Nearly 70 applied for the distinguished fellows awards, and about 640 applied for the traditional $8,000 awards. Since the fellowship program began in 1987, about 2,067 Indiana educators have received the grants.
Polston has a passion for history. In an interview Tuesday afternoon, he said he doesn't want our children to forget what our ancestors, the pioneers, went through. He also has a passion, he said, to see that children learn.
"Today's children must connect with the past in order to better understand how to march forward boldly into the future," said Polston. "I want to be a part of the process to help them connect with our past."
When he decided to apply for the Lilly grant, Polston said, it was two-fold.
While attending Jefferson Elementary School 44 years ago, at the end of third-grade, he said his teacher, Mrs. Pifer, made an announcement at the end of the year recognizing him as the top reader for the school year. For his reward, Polston got to select one of several books to keep. He immediately headed for the book "The Old West." When applying for the grant, he said he immediately made the connection in his mind between that book he got to keep 44 years ago and the trip.
He also had the goal of walking in the footsteps of the pioneers on the Oregon Trail. Between 1841 and the turn of the century, approximately 300,000 pioneers headed west following the trail. Polston wants to experience the trail, and then come back to share his adventure with students.
Writing the grant application, Polston wrote it in the form of a diary, as if he was traveling the Oregon Trail.
"My diary was basically my itinerary for my trip this summer," Polston said.
He will be spending three weeks this summer on the Oregon Trail, recording and photographing what he sees. To prepare for that journey, he's contacted the Oregon Trail and California Trail associations, and reading a book titled "Traveling Through the Oregon Trail."
"What I'm finding out is our country has taken great steps in the past 10 to 15 years to save the past," Polston said.
On the way back, Polston and his wife will visit where the Battle of Little Big Horn took place, Mount Rushmore and important sites in the life of author Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Jarrett will be traveling himself over the course of the next year - Florida, Texas and maybe Arizona. They're trips where the night is darker and the sky is clearer for star gazing through a telescope.
His $25,000 grant will pay for his year-long project to study astronomy so he can deepen his own understanding, he said. A few years ago, he received a $7,500 Lilly grant to travel to the Southwest and investigate dark skies, professional observatories and to receive training. This larger grant will help him buy better equipment and travel more. Lilly also will pay Harrison for Jarrett's time away from the classroom, Jarrett said.
"Lilly really rolled out the red carpet for these grants," Jarrett said.
In addition, Jarrett said, he will work with Mike Stephan, Potawatomi Wildlife Park, Marshall County, to develop astronomy day camps for kids. He will have some evening outings with Harrison students and parents.
During his trips south, Jarrett said he will be able to observe various astronomical objects in their seasons and at more advantageous altitudes and latitudes.
He will attend "Star Parties" in Florida and Texas. The "parties" are four- to six-day events where astronomers gather to observe the night sky and consult with each other. During the day, there are guest speakers and other events.
He will be purchasing an 18-inch aperture telescope with the grant money. Currently, he uses a homemade 8-inch aperture telescope.
"I get to buy equipment that is very serious, that mere mortals can't justify to buy," he said.
Jarrett has earned several observing awards from the National Astronomical League. Jarrett also has been active with the Warsaw Astronomical Society for the past five years.
Jarrett, a sixth-grade teacher at Harrison Elementary School, received $25,000 from the grant program to increase his knowledge and skills in astronomy. Polston, Harrison's principal, received $8,000 to follow the Oregon Trail.[[In-content Ad]]Funded by Lilly, the program enables teachers, principals, guidance counselors and school librarians from all over Indiana to take time to pursue their personal interests, explore subjects that intrigue them and just "get away," according to a Lilly press release. This year's group includes nine distinguished fellows, including Jarrett, who each receive up to $25,000; the remaining 120 each receive $8,000 for their activities.
Out-of-state judges make recommendations for these awards. Nearly 70 applied for the distinguished fellows awards, and about 640 applied for the traditional $8,000 awards. Since the fellowship program began in 1987, about 2,067 Indiana educators have received the grants.
Polston has a passion for history. In an interview Tuesday afternoon, he said he doesn't want our children to forget what our ancestors, the pioneers, went through. He also has a passion, he said, to see that children learn.
"Today's children must connect with the past in order to better understand how to march forward boldly into the future," said Polston. "I want to be a part of the process to help them connect with our past."
When he decided to apply for the Lilly grant, Polston said, it was two-fold.
While attending Jefferson Elementary School 44 years ago, at the end of third-grade, he said his teacher, Mrs. Pifer, made an announcement at the end of the year recognizing him as the top reader for the school year. For his reward, Polston got to select one of several books to keep. He immediately headed for the book "The Old West." When applying for the grant, he said he immediately made the connection in his mind between that book he got to keep 44 years ago and the trip.
He also had the goal of walking in the footsteps of the pioneers on the Oregon Trail. Between 1841 and the turn of the century, approximately 300,000 pioneers headed west following the trail. Polston wants to experience the trail, and then come back to share his adventure with students.
Writing the grant application, Polston wrote it in the form of a diary, as if he was traveling the Oregon Trail.
"My diary was basically my itinerary for my trip this summer," Polston said.
He will be spending three weeks this summer on the Oregon Trail, recording and photographing what he sees. To prepare for that journey, he's contacted the Oregon Trail and California Trail associations, and reading a book titled "Traveling Through the Oregon Trail."
"What I'm finding out is our country has taken great steps in the past 10 to 15 years to save the past," Polston said.
On the way back, Polston and his wife will visit where the Battle of Little Big Horn took place, Mount Rushmore and important sites in the life of author Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Jarrett will be traveling himself over the course of the next year - Florida, Texas and maybe Arizona. They're trips where the night is darker and the sky is clearer for star gazing through a telescope.
His $25,000 grant will pay for his year-long project to study astronomy so he can deepen his own understanding, he said. A few years ago, he received a $7,500 Lilly grant to travel to the Southwest and investigate dark skies, professional observatories and to receive training. This larger grant will help him buy better equipment and travel more. Lilly also will pay Harrison for Jarrett's time away from the classroom, Jarrett said.
"Lilly really rolled out the red carpet for these grants," Jarrett said.
In addition, Jarrett said, he will work with Mike Stephan, Potawatomi Wildlife Park, Marshall County, to develop astronomy day camps for kids. He will have some evening outings with Harrison students and parents.
During his trips south, Jarrett said he will be able to observe various astronomical objects in their seasons and at more advantageous altitudes and latitudes.
He will attend "Star Parties" in Florida and Texas. The "parties" are four- to six-day events where astronomers gather to observe the night sky and consult with each other. During the day, there are guest speakers and other events.
He will be purchasing an 18-inch aperture telescope with the grant money. Currently, he uses a homemade 8-inch aperture telescope.
"I get to buy equipment that is very serious, that mere mortals can't justify to buy," he said.
Jarrett has earned several observing awards from the National Astronomical League. Jarrett also has been active with the Warsaw Astronomical Society for the past five years.
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