Lincoln-McKinley building Makerspace with Masonic grant

At an assembly Friday afternoon, the students of Lincoln-McKinley Primary School cheered when they learned that they will have the chance to be scientists, engineers, artists, technicians and mathematicians thanks to a $3,000 grant from the Montana Masonic Foundation.

Alan Frohberg from the charitable arm of the Montana Masonic Foundation in Great Falls, along with Mason members Chris Smith and Dave Sageser, presented Lincoln-McKinley a check for $3,000 as a gym full of second- and third-graders gave a large yellow thank-you note to the Masons.

Frohberg said that the Masons are committed to public education and Americanism and helping schools is important to the organization.

He added that the Montana Masonic Foundation Inc. which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, wants to give more opportunities to children through their Bikes for Books, Kindles for Kids, and Educational Grant Program.

The Educational Grant Program awards, from which Lincoln-McKinley received the $3,000, are given to contribute to help schools in the areas of music, science, drama and library.

Smith, who was a former student at Lincoln-McKinley and now lives in California, approached librarian Cheree Bekker about applying for the grant.

Though he lives in California now, Smith and his son enjoyed their time studying at Lincoln-McKinley, Smith said, and the school deserved the grant.

Bekker said that when Smith heard that they were going to receive the grant, he drove up from California so he could be present when the grant was given to the school.

Bekker said that with the grant they are going to be able to make a Makerspace in the library. A Makerspace is an area usually within a school, library or other private or public facility where people can learn and explore using anything from no-ech tools to high-tech tools. Makerspaces go along with the concept of STEAM - science, technology, engineering, art and math.

Bekker told the group of around 280 energetic and energized Lincoln-McKinley students that this grant from the Masonic Foundation is going to give them the chance to "think like a scientist, design and code like a computer technician, build like an engineer, make art like an artist, and do math like a mathematician."