| N.C. A&T has been announced as a finalist in The Home Depot’s 2014 RETOOL YOUR SCHOOL Campus Improvement Grant Program. Designed to reinvigorate HBCUs, finalists are competing for $250,000 in grants for on-campus improvements and are now asking their communities and the public to help them win. From February 17 through April 14, supporters can visit www.retoolyourschool.com to vote for their favorite school and sustainable campus improvement project. One $50,000 Tier I major grant, thirteen Tier II $10,000 grants and three $25,000 Campus Pride grants for the schools that receive the most online votes and social media activity, as assessed by The Home Depot, will be awarded. The Home Depot® will announce the winners on or around May 2, 2014.
“The Retool Your School competition provides an opportunity to restore, maintain or upgrade our campus. With your support and daily votes you can help North Carolina A&T secure much needed funding that will improve our campus and the lives of each student we serve,” said Chancellor Harold L. Martin, Sr.
During the online voting period, which is currently underway, consumers can view descriptions of project proposals and cast one vote per day for their favorite HBCU. Following the online vote, a panel of distinguished judges will also evaluate each school’s proposal. Tier I and Tier II projects will be judged based on the number of votes posted to the website, as well as the judges’ evaluation of the relevance to the proposal requirements as listed on the website and application. Entrants must highlight how each project will make a lasting, positive impact on their campus. Special attention will be given to schools that pitch eco-friendly plans. The winning schools will be determined based on a combination of online votes and the judges’ evaluations. The awarding of the Campus Pride grant will be based on the number of votes and social media activity the winning school receives.
A&T will face stiff competition from finalist schools in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. Therefore, North Carolina residents, A&T alumni, friends and family should log on and vote at www.retoolyourschool.com to ensure that the Aggies bring home the grand prize.
Some of the potential improvement projects entered by the HBCU finalists include projects that will affect the campus and community as a whole, such as a installing campus-wide lighting to help to conserve energy & reduce utility expense; building an on-campus sustainable community raised bed garden and farmers market; remodeling a lower level alumni library and installing eco-friendly bathrooms and external landscaping; and, transforming an outdoor campus area into an outdoor classroom. These proposed improvement projects will enhance campus life for current students and generations to come. For more information and updates on The Home Depot “Retool Your School” grant program or to vote online visit www.retoolyourschool.com. Online voting began February 17, 2014, and will end on April 14, 2014, at 11:59 pm EST.
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