Teacher Michelle Martinez, center, and her class mascot, with students, from left, Leah West, Faith Ackley, Sophia Lander and Taylor Viloria.
Cox Communications awarded a $5,000 innovation grant to the forensic/mock trial club at Thurston Middle School led by teacher Michelle Martinez.
Classroom projects that focus on skills-based learning, digital literacy or cyber citizenship were eligible.
The new funds will allow Thurston students, studying underwater rescues, to analyze environmental influences on the decomposition of human cells.
“The students are so excited to see their ideas and innovations come to light and I’m excited to see them continue to grow personally and academically,”
Martinez said in a district statement.
The club twice before received Cox grants. With financial and technical support from Cox, Martinez taps a Baylor University colleague for distance learning to teach criminal investigation and forensic analysis.
“We are all very excited for this new project!” said eighth-grade student Sophia Lander.
What began four years ago as an afterschool club was approved as an elective for Thurston students for the 2016-2017 school year. “The class has allowed us to go more in-depth and students who weren’t in the club before are learning very quickly,” said Martinez. “It’s been a great experience for all of us!”
