Our second 2022 Community Service Award Recipient is Xander Dawson!

You may have heard of the Foundation’s next Community Service Award recipient, or perhaps you may have heard him perform. This student dedicates his talent and time to music and community service – musical community service being his favorite. As part of the Harmony Bridge Performance Group, this student joins a small musical ensemble that offers community outreach, particularly to senior community members. While playing instruments at a local retirement home, he saw the residents interacting with the music and said, “I fell in love with community service after playing for the Harmony Bridge performance group. . . seeing the impact that music can make is inspiring to me, and keeps me going back.”

According to one of his teachers, in 28 years of teaching, he is “one of the top three students” they ever had the pleasure to work with and “one of the most charitable. . . . always ready to lend a helping hand for anything.” He helps music teachers make videos for the beginning band students, tutors students in music as well as math, and most recently, he created the musical underscore and sound effects for the high school play production, Alice in Wonderland. Another teacher said he is “the kind of student that may only come along in your career once, or perhaps twice if you're lucky.” She called him “one of the most extraordinary humans that I have had the privilege to teach,” his humble and kind nature making “every exchange with him one of the best parts of the day.”

You may know him as President and Treasurer of the Class of 2022, President of the National Honor Society, President of the Spanish Club, and the Treasurer of National High Club. In addition to his leadership roles, he has participated over the years in Varsity Cross Country and Varsity Tennis, has served as a Camp Invention Leadership intern, volunteered for the Conservatory Art Show, the Trumansburg Library Book Sale, was a High School New Student Orientation Group Leader, and participated in Karate Community Service. You will also find this student on stage with the Running to Places Theater Company, playing clarinet with the Cayuga Chamber Youth Orchestra, or teaching private music lessons.

As he says he “likes to explore every nuance of every field,” which he says “feels like a lot of work, but in the end, it is so rewarding.” In April 2020, he enrolled in a certificate program with Berklee Online, the online school of the Berklee College of Music, where he studied music with students around the globe. Now, he serves as a volunteer mentor for Berklee Online. This fall, he plans to pursue a Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance at Boston Conservatory at Berklee.

Congratulations to Xander Dawson!

Meet Our First 2022 Community Service Award Recipient, Isabel Morse!

Our first recipient has a passion for working with animals and has spent the last few years volunteering with a variety of local wildlife rehabilitators and rescue organizations. She holds a NYS Wildlife Rehabilitation License and feels that each new rescue presents the opportunity to improve the lives of wild animals in distress. These valuable experiences as a volunteer in the community have inspired her senior year studies with New Visions Life Science and Applied Scientific Research Program at Cornell University, where she serves as Treasurer and observes surgeons and veterinary students at work through clinical veterinary rotations.

A teacher described this student as “exemplary” and “known throughout the school community for her academic, athletic, and extracurricular excellence and achievements.” A role model to younger students, she volunteers as a youth track and field coach and a 5th grade classroom math and grammar mentor. She participates in Varsity Track & Field, Varsity Soccer, Tompkins County Pole Vault Club, the Cayuga Lakers Volleyball Club, Downhill Skiing, and Slalom Water Skiing, all while maintaining high academic excellence. She is a member of the National Honor Society, as well as the Secretary of the Trumansburg H.S. Spanish Club, Treasurer and Chapter One Member of Future Farmers of America (FFA) and an employee at Custom Works & Renovations. According to another teacher, this student “is an extraordinary young woman . . . who always takes her learning outside of the four walls of the classroom and applies it to real life. It's just who she is.” This fall, this student plans to study Environmental Science at Nazareth College and hopes to pursue a pre-Veterinary program. Congratulations to Isabel Morse!

Meet Elisabeth Lewis, our other 2021 Community Service Award recipient!

Elisabeth Lewis is a freshman at Ohio State University pursuing music education. She grew up in Trumansburg, New York and music has always been a part of her life. She started playing the violin and piano at a young age, and now she focuses on trumpet in school. Her ultimate goal is to become a band teacher. Elisabeth is so thankful for all of the opportunities that she had during her time at Trumansburg, and wouldn't trade any of them for the world.

Showcasing Abigail Jackson, a TEF 2021 Community Service Award Recipient

The Trumansburg Education Foundation annually awards a $1000 scholarship to a graduating TCSD senior for reimbursement of expenses related to post-secondary educational pursuits (tuition, books, etc.). To be considered for this award, students must demonstrate a commitment to community service and must have been accepted to college or another post-secondary educational institution. Students electing to apply to AmeriCorps or other well-established service organizations may also apply for this scholarship to assist with related expenses.

Here’s a little bit about Abigail in her own words:

My name is Abigail Jackson and I am currently a Freshman at Niagara University studying Criminal Justice and Criminology. I am a student Ambassador at Niagara and am in multiple clubs. I am in Criminal Justice Association, Campus Programming Board, Ski club and an currently trying to establish the Niagara University Airsoft club. I am an avid animal lover and am trying to convince my roommate to add a fish to our room. When not in class or participating in a club, I enjoy consuming copious amounts of ramen noodles.

Congratulations to Abigail, and best wishes for success in her future endeavors!

Betty McKnight, PhD, Legacy to the Foundation

The Foundation is deeply grateful for the generous bequest of over $200,000 that the late Trumansburg community member, Betty McKnight, PhD, has honored our organization with. Betty persevered to receive an advanced education during a time when it was not easy for a woman to do so. She attended SUNY Cortland for her Bachelor’s, received a Master’s Degree from Syracuse University and then went on to earn a Doctorate in Science Education from Cornell University. Betty was a passionate advocate for science education and for all teachers. She was an active church member at Trumansburg’s United Methodist Church, profoundly mentoring many of its youth, and also actively supported the Ulysses Philomathic Library. Betty’s generosity will help the Foundation continue in its mission to support educational programs and teachers in their pursuit to enrich and inspire student knowledge and creativity.

TCSD Creates!

Much has looked different this year, and Trumansburg’s Youth Art Month was not an exception. Usually for the month of March, students create and contribute work culminating in a district-wide Art Show. That couldn’t happen this year due to the pandemic, but art teachers Ellen Pennock, Rachel Koppel, and Sara Apker brainstormed ideas in which students could create and then share these creations with our community. What emerged from this brainstorming is a collaborative coloring book created by the district’s student artists Pre-K-12. Not only does it showcase student art, it gives the community an opportunity for some relaxing, stress-relieving coloring. The coloring books went home with students last week and copies will be made available in Trumansburg establishments. Colored pages can be shared on Instagram @tcsdcreates.

Trumansburg Supplemental Middle School Program

Check out this supplemental program for Trumansburg 7th & 8th graders that the Foundation has helped to support!

Are you in need of some help with virtual learning when your student is in class and you are working? THE​ TRUMANSBURG COMMUNITY SCHOOL-DAY PROGRAM (TCSDP) is open for week 4 (January 25-29).

The Town of Ulysses Recreation Department is resuming the TCSDP academic support programming for 7 and 8​th​ grade students in the hybrid and virtual school schedule. This program is designed to provide academic support for virtual learning, recreation, and safe socialization for middle school students that are participating in the hybrid school program or virtual learning. For more specific information go to ​ulysses.ny.us​. TCSDP will provide supplemental school day programs for 7 and 8​th​ grade students Monday-Thursday, in six week sessions throughout the remainder of the winter part of the school year at the American Legion in Trumansburg, ​week four begins January 25th​. Gold: Will attend on Mondays and Tuesdays, 8 am-1:00 pm. Blue: Will attend on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 am-1:00 pm.

Friday program now available. ​During the asynchronous day, the program will be available from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. TCSDP will be open to all families. There will be a $35.00 fee each week, per program section, however we are offering a sliding scale or full financial assistance for families in need. This fee can be paid in full or on a weekly basis. The Friday program will be an additional $15.00.

Strict Covid-19 protocols will be in place that coincide with the CDC, NYS, and Tompkins County Health Department guidelines. All participants will need to complete an online pre-symptom screening prior to arrival and have their temperature checked upon arrival at the program site. Proper social distancing, area person density, mask wearing, and cleaning protocols will be in place to ensure the health and safety for staff and student participants.

To enroll your child(ren) please complete the online application (link below). If you have questions about programs please contact Town of Ulysses Recreation Director, William Glennon, at recreation@ulysses.ny.us.

https://ulysses.recdesk.com/Community/Home

Art Auction Success!

Because of the pandemic, the Art Auction that TEF normally hosts at the end of Youth Art Month in March was moved online. The auction took place for the month of November with the Foundation joining forces with the Trumansburg Conservatory for the Arts. The auction ended up raising over $5000 that the organizations have split! We want to thank the generosity of our community, both the artists who donated all the wonderful pieces to bid on, and to those who bid on the artwork for purchase.

T-burg Pre-K visits the Johnson Museum of Art!

Our Pre-K students had a great time at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University. They prepared for their trip by reading “Matthew’s Dream” by Leo Lionni where they learned how to observe art and to see it in many different ways. Thank you to the Trumansburg Elementary School PTO for funding the book.

We'd like to share some photos from one of the class trips with you. The children had a great time with the collections and exhibits; and last but not least, the elevator ride was an exciting adventure! Be sure to put the Johnson Museum of Art on your list of summer vacation go-to destinations!

KIDS DISCOVER THE TRAIL TRUMANSBURG – a program of the TCSD Foundation in collaboration with the Discovery Trail and the Trumansburg Central School District.  If you’d like to help us continue this program, please consider a donation.

T-burg Grade 4 visits the Eight Square Schoolhouse

Kids Discover the Trail: 19th Century Life in an Eight Square Schoolhouse

Our Trumansburg Grade 4 students learned about local history and how children lived prior to the Industrial Revolution by attending school for a day in a one room schoolhouse. Schoolmarms led classes in reading, art, spelling, math, science, penmanship, and geography. They also instructed students about pumping water, washing and drying hands, and playing recess games from 1892.

The students were well-prepared for their visit. We thank the Trumansburg Elementary PTO for funding the purchase of “The Secret School,” by Avi. We also thank our TCSD Foundation supporters for helping to sponsor this trip to the schoolhouse!

A picture is worth 1,000 words; and through these pictures, we hope you can imagine a bit of what our class “scholars” experienced during their visits! These photos are from several photographers and three of our classes. Thank you to all, and enjoy!

The TCSD Foundation supports the Kids Discover the Trail! program. If you’d like to help maintain this program, please consider a donation.

T-burg Grade 3 visits the Mundy Wildflower Garden!

And finally, our T-burg Grade 3 students visited the Mundy Wildflower Garden at Cornell Botanic Gardens last week; and we’d like to share our pictures with you.  The students had an amazing time taking what they had learned in the classroom into the garden; they had perfect weather conditions; and they discovered life-long skills about identifying wildflowers.  They explored the flowers, learned about pollination, smelled skunk cabbage (see if you can spot those pictures), and one group even happened onto a snapping turtle! Click here to view more photos.

Check out Jen Wofford's interview with Rob Montana for Tompkins Weekly!

Tompkins Weekly: Non-profit organizations are plentiful throughout Tompkins County, and make a big impact in our communities. Despite their contributions, area non-profits can sometimes go unnoticed or unknown. In an effort to shine a spotlight on those who are making a difference in our county, Tompkins Weekly will be showcasing these organizations on a regular basis. This week we are highlighting the TCSD Foundation, an organization aimed at supporting the Trumansburg Central School District. To learn more about the organization, we interviewed Jen Wofford, president of the foundation.

http://tompkinsweekly.com/news/2017/04/30/spotlight-tcsd-foundation/

KIDS DISCOVER THE TRAIL! - Grade 3

KDT! Trumansburg is a collaboration of the TCSD Foundation, Discovery Trail, and Trumansburg Central School District to provide curriculum-based field trips to the eight sites of the Discovery Trail for Trumansburg Central School District students grades Pre-K through 6. KDT 3rd Grade

Last week instructors from CORNELL BOTANIC GARDENS (formerly called Cornell Plantations) visited each Grade 3 classroom and presented a lesson and hands-on activities to prepare the students for their upcoming field trip to the wildflower garden; and here are some pictures from those visits. Thank you to the Trumansburg PTO for funding their program book, “Wildflowers: A Peterson First Guide,” by Roger Tory Peterson; and to our Foundation donors for their support.

KIDS DISCOVER THE TRAIL - Kindergarten Class goes to the Tompkins County Library!

Library Collage 2017 Like you and your family, we don’t just do one thing at a time! While we were busy with last-minute details for Friday night’s Community Art Auction, we found time to tag along with the Trumansburg kindergarten classes that were out on the Discovery Trail, visiting the Tompkins County Public Library. By the way, this field trip is a perfect example of where your donations go. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

The children also received their very own copy of the book, “The Interrupting Chicken,” by David Ezra; and we thank the Trumansburg Elementary PTO for providing the funding for that.

Be sure to ask your students for the recipe to bake a book!

Connect with us:

Contact Us:

Trumansburg Education Foundation
P.O. Box 486
Trumansburg, NY 14886-0486
contact@tburgedfoundation.org