Pictured are Saxe Gotha Elementary School winners Hillarie Collins and Tracey Wooten
LEXINGTON, S.C. – April 10, 2025 — The Lexington One Educational Foundation has awarded $15,672.74 in Innovation Grants to four elementary schools in Lexington County School District One for the 2025–2026 school year.
These Innovation Grants, worth up to $5,000 each, are designed to support creative and forward-thinking projects at the elementary and middle school levels. To qualify, each school provided a 10% financial match and showed how their project would impact a significant number of students. In total, 1,824 students across the district will benefit from this year’s grants.
Here are the 2025–26 Innovation Grant recipients:
- Gilbert Elementary School – $4,734.00
Project: “VR: A New Dimension of Learning”
This grant will fund 8 Class VR goggles and content subscriptions for students in grades 3–5. Students will explore science and social studies through interactive virtual environments tailored to different learning styles, promoting equity and engagement. - Oak Grove Elementary School – $3,630.00
Project: “Ozobots: Tiny Bots, Limitless Potential”
Oak Grove will purchase a full set of Ozobots, small robots that help students learn coding and problem-solving through fun, hands-on lessons that meet various learning needs. - Pleasant Hill Elementary School – $4,949.75
Project: “Develop Number Sense with Digi-Blocks”
All 1st–3rd grade classrooms will receive Digi-Blocks, tools designed to teach place value and number sense in a fun and meaningful way. - Saxe Gotha Elementary School – $2,358.99
Project: “Eagle Ts: Critical Reasoning to Grow Young Minds”
This project will provide critical thinking games to help 1st–5th graders strengthen their verbal, quantitative, and non-verbal reasoning skills.
Julie Anderson Washburn, Executive Director of the Foundation, shared her enthusiasm:
“This is the eleventh year we’ve awarded Innovation Grants, bringing the total to $255,571.23 invested across 17 schools. So far, 30,727 students have benefited. These grants create powerful and memorable learning experiences that shape the future of education in our district.”
The Lexington One Educational Foundation is able to fund these grants thanks to the generous support of individuals and businesses who believe in investing in the future of education.
About the Lexington One Educational Foundation
Founded in 1994, the Lexington One Educational Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting and growing educational opportunities for students in Lexington County School District One. Now celebrating 30 years of service, the foundation partners with local businesses and donors to raise funds for programs that enrich classrooms and enhance student success.
To learn more or to donate, visit www.Lex1EdFound.org.
