Pat Mullen wanted to help kids learn. Years after his passing, his legacy continues to be strong through grants from the L.P. “Pat” Mullen Fund at the Greater Salina Community Foundation. Grants encourage hands-on learning in the areas of Youth Arts & Humanities and Youth Science, Technology & Invention. Awards from the Mullen fund this year include:

Mullen Youth Arts & Humanities Grants:

• $3,000 – Salina South High School Reparatory Theatre – to work with the Lovewell Institute to create an original production, including music, lyrics and book, with a powerful message for young people that can be produced over and over again
• $1,400 – Opportunity Now Day School – to implement a new curriculum melding the science related principles of electrical technology and circuitry with music
• $4,000 – Salina Municipal Law Enforcement Band – to continue development of the Youth band program including purchasing music, and participation in festival competition and adjudication
• $5,000 – MADD Camp at St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church – to secure professional instructors to teach music, art, dance and drama at this summer camp for youth
• $4,500 – Salina Art Center – to establish a series of in-depth summer arts camps allowing more experienced students time to develop and refine skills, learn about area institutions and grow artistically

Mullen Science, Technology & Invention Grants:

• $4,995 – Central High School First Robotics Team – the second year of a multi-year grant to purchase kits and parts and participation in the FIRST Robotics Regional Competition
• $5,000 – St. Francis Community and Family Services – To continue to grow the Computer Skill & Drill course where young people who are aging out of foster care participate in a course to increase technology skills and encourage completion of high school
• $5,000 – The First Tee of Salina – to purchase equipment for implementation of a new curriculum connecting science, technology, engineering and math skills with golf, including calculating angles, spin rates, ball speed and other categories
• $2,000 – Kansas State University Salina – to implement a hands-on camp for middle school students based on the video game Minecraft that incorporates computer programming, mechanical engineering and electronics and building a 3-D model
• $1,000 – Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland – to host a conference for young girls that includes hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering and math and interactions with women in these career fields
• $2,200 – Sacred Heart Jr/Sr High School – to purchase a routing system for the industrial technology classes so that students can experience CNC and CAD systems
• $2,000 – Castle Project – to provide start-up supplies and equipment to add hands-on science activities to the curriculum for this summer enrichment program for elementary school children

$40, 095 Total Mullen Grants Awarded