Students across Friendswood ISD (FISD) participated in the FISD Education Foundation’s (FEF) annual Student Grant Committee Meetings prior to Thanksgiving Break, engaging in hands-on decision-making to help shape the future of learning on their campuses. Each student committee reviewed this year’s teacher-submitted Adopt-A-Grant proposals and used critical thinking, discussion, and consensus-building to determine which projects would receive funding.
The grants selected by students will be funded through the Mustang Association, whose support ensures that students have access to meaningful learning resources and innovative educational opportunities throughout FISD.
At Cline Elementary, students selected two grants for funding: Keep Cline Beautiful, a campus stewardship initiative that encourages environmental responsibility, and Chomp, Build, Learn, a hands-on STEM project designed to promote early engineering skills through building and design challenges.
At Windsong Elementary, students chose three engaging grants: Code-A-Story, which blends literacy and early coding; Hatching Life Science, an immersive exploration of the life cycle of a chicken through real-life chick incubation; and Sensory Mindfulness, which supports emotional regulation and focus through sensory-based tools and practices.
At Friendswood Junior High, students adopted four innovative grants. These included Magnetic Motion, which introduces physics concepts through magnetic force activities; Sewing Success, a practical and creative sewing program; Glazing the Way, an enhancement to the ceramics program through new glazing materials; and The Great Maze Challenge, which promotes spatial reasoning and collaboration through maze-building activities.
At Friendswood High School, students selected two grants that support advanced learning and inclusive programming. Canine Heart Sounds provides veterinary science students with realistic diagnostic tools to study heart function and medical conditions. Get Out and Move supports the FISD Transition Center students through outdoor recreational equipment that promotes wellness, teamwork, and communication skills.
Throughout each committee meeting, students practiced evaluating ideas, discussing the potential impact on learning, and advocating for the projects they believed would most benefit their peers. Their selections reflect a thoughtful commitment to improving their campuses and supporting teachers who design meaningful learning experiences.
“The Student Grant Committee process allows our students to take an active role in shaping the educational opportunities on their campuses,” said Ashley Adair, Executive Director of the Friendswood Education Foundation. “Their decisions show remarkable insight, empathy, and leadership. We are grateful to the Mustang Association for making these Mustang Association-funded grants possible.”
The Student Grant Committees are an integral part of FEF’s mission to inspire learning, enhance teaching, and strengthen the connection between students and their schools. By engaging students directly in the Adopt-A-Grant process, the Foundation fosters ownership, agency, and real-world decision-making skills.
To learn more about Adopt-A-Grant or to support this year’s teacher-led initiatives, visit fef.myfisd.com/programs/grants.
