Education Grant WinnerBrandy Gonzalez-Kee

Art is a class where students can express how creativity, imagination, and showcase their crafty talents outside of the books. Living in a world dominated by digital media, sometimes art techniques exercised in the past are not appreciated as much, and by diving into how it has evolved, not only will they understand the transformation, but it’ll also empower them to apply bits and pieces into today’s art.

Brandy Gonzalez-Kee, educator at Clark High School, wanted the opportunity for her students to have a hands-on activity to further enhance their educational needs and foster creative growth. Thanks to Power of the Dollar^® members, she was awarded a $1,000 grant in December 2024 for her “Analog Artistry: Screenprinting & Image Multiplicity Project” idea, and she then used to purchase a big thermal printer made for screen printing, which will help her students learn a style of art like never before.

“My inspiration for applying for the education grant was really to foster that passion I have for printing,” said Gonzalez-Kee. “Applying for this grant allowed me to create a dark room, to do specialized screen printing, and to be able to show them a more analog way of making imagery beyond what they knew as their whole digital era that is now.”

Working out of a dark room—as Ms. Gonzalez-Kee mentioned—the students can make prints come alive via the printer just by way of it heating onto the frame they use. From posters, to shirts, to home décor, students are encouraged to think outside of the box and see what they could use that would be creative when utilizing the printer. The addition of the printer has not only been a hit, but it’s been a chance for them to enjoy aspects of art class they wouldn’t normally get to experience at school.

“They get to use all these materials that they don’t usually are exposed to at this level,” she said. “They’re already all into art. Even the ones who don’t have an art background… being able to see what they can make and seeing this new process is something that they would never have the opportunity to do!”