The Southeast Texas Food Bank and Education First Federal Credit Union has made it possible for Homer Drive and Guess Elementary Schools to receive a Cardinal NEST (Navigating Excellence Success and Triumph). Cardinal NEST learning labs are innovative and high-tech learning spaces for students of underserved elementary campuses to engage with STEAM-related software.
In partnership with the LU Office of Community Relations, Economic Development and Student Access, Beaumont Independent School District previously established Cardinal NEST learning labs at 8 other district elementary schools –– Pietzsch-MacArthur, Blanchette, Charlton-Pollard, Amelia, Martin, Fletcher, Dishman and Regina-Howell. With a gift of $15,000, Education First Credit Union is sponsoring the construction of the ninth NEST at BISD’s Guess Elementary School.
"Education is at the heart of who we are and is the inspiration for a lot of what we do. Through the partnership with SOAR, we've been able to see the work that goes into these NESTs," said Faith Brammer, Education First Community Relations coordinator. "To say that we are thrilled to sponsor the Cardinal NEST at Guess Elementary is an understatement. They have been an important business partner of ours since 2016, and we're happy to support the campus in whatever capacity we can. We're excited to see this new creative learning space and to continue to support financial literacy in the classroom."
The Southeast Texas Food Bank is sponsoring the tenth Cardinal NEST learning lab at BISD’s Homer Drive Elementary School.
"We have great plans for this amazing resource that will partner nicely with the Â鶹ӳ»Ó°Òô and BISD initiative," said Barbara Newhouse, Southeast Texas Food Bank president and CEO. "We are pleased to sponsor Homer Drive in honor of Mary Simon, who leads our children's programming and has long supported all efforts in BISD related to children."
For more information about Cardinals NESTs, visit, lamar.edu/community-relations.