SEMO awards grant to Cape Central teacher through Emperor Penguin sponsorship

Southeast Missouri State University recently awarded Cape Central High School teacher Jennifer Criblez a $1,000 Innovative Teaching Grant through the university's Emperor Penguin sponsorship of Cape Girardeau Public Schools.

The grant will fund field trips to St. Louis and around Cape Girardeau for Criblez's Advanced Placement Human Geography class. These trips will allow students to explore political and land-use patterns in urban environments, local agriculture and regional economic development by gaining hands-on experience.

“SEMO is committed to nurturing education that allows all students the opportunity to reach their full potential,” SEMO's director of admissions Lenell Hahn said in a news release from the university. “This program allows us to give back to the community that has supported us for so many years.”

The trips will allow students to meet with industry leaders in both cities, providing them with a better understanding of the course material and the opportunity to network with possible mentors. Students will receive fieldwork experience they will use for later presentations.

"Typically, we offer elementary students several great hands-on, interactive learning opportunities through field trips. Immersing high school students in real-world examples is equally important," Criblez said. "Thanks to the Innovative Teaching Grant, my AP Human Geography students will go beyond theoretical knowledge and experience the material firsthand. These experiences will not only help them connect classroom learning with real-world examples, but also deepen their understanding of our local community and region."

The grant is intended to "support excellence in teaching and improve student learning through financially supporting activities designed to enhance material taught in a course."

Emperor Penguin is the highest sponsorship level for the Cape Girardeau Public Schools Foundation's annual Penguin Party — a gala held on the second Saturday in February to raise funds for the Foundation — and costs $5,000. In addition to presenting a grant in their company's name to a teacher and students within the school district, Emperor Penguin sponsors also receive recognition in event media materials from the podium during the event and in the printed program, one team of four and recognition as a hole and cart sponsor for the Tiger Golf Shootout, a reserved table for 10 with hors d'oeuvres and champagne and a link to their website on the Foundation's website, foundation.capetigers.com.