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The table below lists grants that have specifically benefited Hopkins High School.
Watch the video to learn more about the impact that HEF grants have on the students at Hopkins High School.
View the district map showing a summary of grants for each school here.
| Title | Description | Year |
|---|---|---|
| LifeLabs | HEF's first grant: A three-year project (1995-98) at Hopkins High School that connected students with the world of work, and then morphed into something much bigger. Read more | 1995-1996 |
| Raku Kiln | Purchased raku kiln for students to glaze porcelain pottery. | 1996-1997 |
| Literary Magazine | Supported creation of a literary magazine publishing student work. | 1996-1997 |
| Video Camera for Speech Pathology | Purchased video camera for Speech Pathology Department. | 1997-1998 |
| Water Monitoring | Purchased waders for biology students to participate in Minnehaha Creek water-monitoring project. | 1997-1998 |
| Costa Rica Trip | Partially funded the choir and orchestra music and service trip to Costa Rica. | 1997-1998 |
| Future Teachers | Created pilot project to teach students to be effective tutors and student teachers, serving all Hopkins K-12 students. | 1998-1999 |
| Freshwater Academy | Established Freshwater Academy, a full-semester program integrating learning in environmental issues, science, social studies, language arts, and physical education. | 1998-1999 |
| International Science and Engineering Fair | Encouraged student participation in the International Science and Engineering Fair. | 1999-2000 |
| Future Teachers | Expanded 1998-1999 pilot program to teach studentsto be effective tutors and student teachers, serving all Hopkins K-12 students. | 1999-2000 |
| Drama Course | Established classroom drama course. | 1999-2000 |
| Leveraging the World-Wide Web | Updated and enhanced the HHS Web page. | 1999-2000 |
| Ceramic Mural | Funded creating a ceramic mural at HHS. | 1999-2000 |
| Skills Lab Responsibility Course | Skills Lab Responsibility Course | 2001-2002 |
| Mobile iBook Computer | Due to the increasing demand for computer lab time and the desire to maintain school-wide availability of the four existing computer labs, HEF awarded a grant to develop a mobile mini-lab of wireless network-access laptop computers. The minilab can be wheeled into and set up in any classroom and impacts courses in science and mathematics that have become particularly computer-intensive. Also benefiting from the program are low-enrollment classes such as ESL, special education, basic skills classes and advan | 2001-2002 |
| Theater Project | Provided funds for materials needed by the Hopkins Alternative Program (HAP) to produce a play at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. | 2001-2002 |
| Small Business Model | Provided seed money for the HAP "Alternative Sense" business venture, their model small business. | 2001-2002 |
| Super Mileage Vehicle Project | Supported the building of the Super Mileage Vehicle to be entered in competition. | 2001-2002 |
| Dance Class Equipment | Purchased materials needed to implement two new dance courses to address diverse interests and fulfill graduation standards. | 2001-2002 |
| KHOP Upgrade | Upgraded KHOP to High-Definition Television technology. | 2001-2002 |
| Special Needs Sexuality Consultant | Provided a human sexuality consultant for students with special needs. | 2001-2002 |
| Basic Skills for Special Needs | Funded basic skills test materials for special services students. | 2001-2002 |
| Computer Building | Supported the purchase of computer components for the Technology class to build and sell two home computers allowing this educational opportunity to become self-sustaining. | 2002-2003 |
| Yearbook Technology | Matched funds to replace and upgrade hardware and software used for publishing the yearbook, increasing efficiency and reducing costs in the production of the yearbook and giving the students real world journalistic and publishing skills. | 2002-2003 |
| PLATO Software | Provided for the purchase of PLATO software for the Hopkins Alternative Program (HAP) allowing students to work at their own pace and level to improve the skills necessary to meet graduation requirements. | 2002-2003 |
| Freshwater Academy | Freshwater Academy | 2002-2003 |
| Links to Learning Theatre | Links to Learning Theatre | 2002-2003 |
| Home Access for Homework | Purchased an Xserve file server giving students access from home to their password-protected file folders on school computers. | 2002-2003 |
| Graphic Design Software | Supported the acquisition of graphic design software and peripherals for the computers in the art computer lab allowing students to use computers as an “art tool”. | 2002-2003 |
| Online Learning | Online Learning | 2003-2004 |
| Nutrition and Obesity | Awarded funds for a health and nutrition program designed to educate students about the positive benefits of appropriate food choices and a physically active lifestyle in order to address the growing problem of obesity. | 2003-2004 |
| Educational Advocacy Training | Provided support for a program designed to promote academic success beyond high school for students of color by encouraging educational advocacy by and for the students and their parents. | 2003-2004 |
| High School Book Clubs | Provided funding for Men’s and Women’s Book RAP groups, designed to encourage literacy and create a social setting outside of school to promote reading for enjoyment. | 2003-2004 |
| Peer Insights Mentoring | Provided funding for programs to complement the Peer Insights class in the FACs department. Outside activities supported by this grant will help build bridges between students with and without disabilities, allowing both groups to learn from each other. | 2003-2004 |
| STAR Fund -- HHS Writing Class | Awarded $30,000 to restore sections of a writing class, preventing the number of students in those classes from rising to 28 from the current 16-20 students. This allows teachers to give individual, immediate feedback leading to improved writing skills. | 2003-2004 |
| Multimedia Cart for Current Events | Supported the purchase of a multimedia cart for AP Government and US History courses in order to seamlessly integrate current events into the classroom, accommodate students’ learning styles and expand the classroom beyond the school day through technology. | 2004-2005 |
| Off-Campus Pavilion Library | Awarded a grant to build a small library for use by at-risk students where they will learn to access resources, actively read and discuss books with a significant adult, and appreciate reading as an active, shared experience. | 2004-2005 |
| Links to Learning Theatre | Provided funding for the Links to Learning Theatre class, which allows students with special needs the opportunity to experience producing and presenting a play while working on their transition skills with the guidance of mainstream peer coaches. | 2004-2005 |
| Peer Insights | Peer Insights builds bridges between Hopkins High School students with disabilities and those without disabilities. In addition to learning about each other’s differences and unique abilities, the students go on social outings to focus on teamwork and to foster skills of independence. | 2004-2005 |
| AP Euro Project | A technology grant for a laptop and projector allows AP History teacher, Carrie Lucking and her class to use pictures, video, music, and interactive online activities. They experience technology as they will when they get out in the real world. | 2005-2006 |
| Computer Aided Design | High school engineering, woodworking, carpentry and construction students benefit from using Computer Aided Design (CAD) software and an industry standard programmable router table to create three dimensional projects. This software and equipment exposes students to the engineering design process, using a model that is considered state of the art. Read more. | 2005-2006 |
| JumpStart for College | First-generation college students will have an opportunity to get a JumpStart for College through a summer 2007 workshop. Students will be exposed to post-secondary options and learn about the college search and application process. | 2005-2006 |
| Peer Insights | Peer Insights builds bridges between Hopkins High School students with disabilities and those without disabilities. In addition to learning about each other’s differences and unique abilities, the students go on social outings to focus on teamwork and to foster skills of independence. | 2005-2006 |
| Underground Railroad Simulation | An equity-related student empowerment pilot focused on developing strong anti-racist student leadership for Dare to Be Real mentor leaders and for enhancing the educational experience of Advanced Placement U.S. History students at Hopkins High School. | 2006-2007 |
| Guidance Counselor Resource Grant | With this grant, Hopkins High School was able to add a fifth guidance counselor, reducing the student-counselor ratio to 420 to 1 from a previous 525 to 1. Read more. | 2006-2007 |
| Peer Insights | Helps students with and without disabilities to learn about one another, how to function in the community, how to interact with one another and how to make friends. The students go on social outings to focus on teamwork and to foster skills of independence. | 2006-2007 |
| Modeling Constructive Responses Using Student Work | This program gives students the courage to try new problems and improves the quality of their written responses. | 2007-2008 |
| College and Career Center Expansion | With more staff time, students are able to explore post-secondary options including colleges, technical schools, military options and jobs. | 2007-2008 |
| Opening Doors to Post-Secondary Education | Students with limited resources now have the opportunity to explore educational options available to them upon graduation. | 2007-2008 |
| Men's Choir Curriculum Repertoire | This project builds a library of quality repertoire specifically written for men’s voices. | 2007-2008 |
| Online Newspaper | This project creates an online presence for the HHS newspaper. It also allows student journalists to provide a more immediate publishing service to the school. It integrates photography, video and graphics. It more closely aligns the journalism program with what professional and scholastic journalists are doing around the country. | 2007-2008 |
| AVID Middle School Curriculum | AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination and strives to improve the performance of all junior high kids in the academic middle. The AVID program includes both an elective course and a building–wide approach with the goal of improving students’ academic skills, their ability to “do school” and become college-ready. | 2007-2008 |
| Technical Education: Web Design and Business Marketing | This project creates an opportunity for Hopkins High School students to design, create, and maintain an actual web-site for a spirit wear embroidery business. In addition, students will learn how to manage all aspects of a small business. Funds raised by the business will be returned to the students through Spirit Shop grants and sponsorships. | 2007-2008 |
| Music Technology Lab | This grant is part of a larger project to add a Music Technology Lab at Hopkins High School. The music technology lab builds upon the current instrumental and vocal music offerings to include skills necessary for success in today’s digital music industry. While utilizing GarageBandTM, students will create compositions, learn the art of recording, develop mix down techniques, and create end products such as original CDs and Podcasts. | 2007-2008 |
| Enhancing Learning: Revolutions and Cross-Sectional Area of Solids | 12 three-dimensional models enable teachers to more effectively teach the revolution of solids and cross-sectional area units offered in calculus and AP calculus curricula. | 2007-2008 |
| Calculator Library for Students | This grant funds 25 HP graphing calculators for students to checkout at the Media Center. | 2008-2009 |
| Exceptional Learning Booster Club | This grant helps fund an activity club to support and ensure continuance of small extra-curricular interest communities for gifted learners. | 2008-2009 |
| Transmitting Understanding via Active Expressions | This grant funds Active ExpressionsTM for use with the Sophomore Academy. | 2008-2009 |
| English Language Learners: Family Advisory Committee | This pilot program helps create a more equitable home/school partnership by building relationships with ELL families and fostering increased communication with the families and our community. | 2008-2009 |
| Auditorium Wireless Sound System | New and re-positioned sound equipment now allows the wireless sound system to be properly balanced during performances. Additionally, more antennas and microphones allow large group performances to take full advantage of the auditorium as a performance space. | 2009-2010 |
| Environmental Learning and Solar Panels | Students will learn about the uses and applications of solar (PV) panels by taking an active approach to learning. Allowing students to interact with on-site solar panels combined with environmental education, will give them a better understanding of how multi-disciplinary issues interact with each other, thus leading to improved decision-making skills. | 2009-2010 |
| Men's Choir Curriculum Repertoire | Music specially written for high school voices helps teach concepts of harmonic structure, intonation, tone quality and more.A diverse, quality library is needed to address the range of teenage male voices.HEF’s grant helps complete the core of the men’s chorus library. | 2009-2010 |
| Teaching Science with Technology | A combined grant and special appeal funded hand-held and desktop computers in science labs in both junior highs and the high school. With these computers, our students are able to analyze data, research online and understand which sources are credible, interpret the information, connect with scientists around the world and then develop multi-media presentations, just like our “real world scientists.”echnology | 2009-2010 |
| Teaching Science with Technology | A combined grant and special appeal funded hand-held and desktop computers in science labs in both junior highs and the high school. With these computers, our students are able to analyze data, research online and understand which sources are credible, interpret the information, connect with scientists around the world and then develop multi-media presentations, just like our “real world scientists.” | 2009-2010 |
| 'Reflections' Literary Magazine | The “Reflections” magazine showcasing student work is back! Works include short stories, poems, essays, photography, and artwork. The H.E.F. grant provides the start up costs. Sales will fund future editions of the magazine. | 2010-2011 |
| Buzz for Learning | Electronic buzzer systems encourage quick answers and a fun way to learn. Buzzers are used for academic teams to practice for competitions and are available to high school classroom teachers for games to help students review for tests. | 2010-2011 |
| Mathematics Lab: Real-World Applications | Interactive labs will increase academic performance because students can apply concepts from each unit to real world mathematical situations. Using TI-Nspire CX math technology, the program provides concrete applications so students understand how the study of math is relevant to their life beyond school. | 2010-2011 |
| Career Paths to Independence | Practical Assessment Exploration System (PAES) provides vocational curriculum and assessment tools to simulate a work environment for students with Individual Education Plans. Exploring career/vocational areas, the program encourages students to become as independent as possible. | 2010-2011 |
| Environmental Solar Panels | Additional funding for environmental solar panels grant | 2009-2010 |
| Roll 'Em -- Video Cameras for Language Assessment | Small groups of world language students can now easily record their conversations with Flip cameras. Read more | 2011-2012 |
| Making College a Reality for English Language Learners | This innovative parent involvement program works with families of English Language Learners to explain the college process and help families better prepare their students. Read more | 2011-2012 |
| Be Your Dream Academic Coaching | Professional life coaches will provide one on one coaching for students and workshops for teachers, staff, and parents. Read more | 2011-2012 |
| Be Your Dream Academic Coaching | Professional life coaches will provide one on one coaching for students and workshops for teachers, staff, and parents. Read more | 2012-2013 |
| Enhancing Teen Literacy via eBooks | Students in grades 7-12 will have 24/7 online access to 900 titles of popular fiction and nonfiction e-books. Read more | 2012-2013 |
| Let's Talk! and Job Talk! | Curricula to teach critical work- and life-related skills to students with special needs. Read more | 2012-2013 |
| Academic Support Center | Teachers and student mentors provide after-school homework assistance in math, science, and language arts. Read more | 2012-2013 |
| Green Gatehouse Structural Plan | HHS Earth Club designs 'green' parking attendant structure. Read more | 2013-2014 |
| Mobile Music Recording and Production Lab | Music technology students can produce high quality recordings. Read more | 2013-2014 |
| Bringing Drama to the Classroom | A mobile stage to enable classroom teachers to integrate dramatic presentation into regular curriculum. Read more | 2013-2014 |
| Academic Support Center | The Academic Support Center at the high school provides tutoring experiences in the areas of math, writing and science to any student who is willing to put in the time. Read more | 2013-2015 |
| STEM2: Boosting the Power of STEM Beyond the Classroom | Royal Bash 2014 Special Appeal, year two of a two-year initiative. This Special Appeal grant propelled Hopkins’ STEM curriculum beyond the traditional school day — before school, after school, during breaks, and in the summer. Read more | 2013-2014 |
| Choir Festival | A concert presented to sixth graders by the upper level choirs. Read more | 2014-2015 |
| Full STEAM Ahead | Bash 2015 Special Appeal, year one of a three-year initiative. This Special Appeal funded Stages Theater for K. Service projects for JH. Career lectures for HHS. Read more | 2014-2015 |
| Shifting to New Concepts in Literacy | HEF is partnering with the Hopkins School District to send nine teachers to train next summer in successful research-based adolescent literacy education for junior high and high school students. These teachers will in turn train others in the District in these ‘best practices’. Read more. | 2015-2016 |
| Increasing Success and Rigor in Advanced Placement | This HEF grant funds initial access to Albert.io, online practice multiple choice questions with immediate results and feedback. This vehicle targets higher achievement by allowing students to practice fact-based knowledge at home. Read more. | 2015-2016 |
| A capella Enhanced with Technology | This grant funds equipment to enhance the overall quality of Hopkins’ renowned vocal music program. Read more. | 2015-2016 |
| Full STEAM Ahead | Bash 2016 Special Appeal, year two of a three-year initiative. This Special Appeal funded Stages Theater for K. Implementing a service curriculum for JH. Expanded career lectures for HHS. Read more | 2015-2016 |
| Kiva U Club: Investing in the World -- Awesome Fund Grant | The new student-led Kiva U Club's goal is to involve more students at HHS, fundraise, and to loan at least $50 in each of the 27 countries represented by HHS students. Read more | 2016-2017 |
| ACT Online Test Prep | With this grant, every HHS student's Chromebrook will have Albert.io software, providing skill-strengthening activities and practice ACT tests. Read more | 2016-2017 |
| Permanent Recording and Playback System | Permanent installation of a recording/playback system in each of the 3 large music practice rooms in HHS is a simple – yet huge – enhancement to the high school’s music program. Directors can record and play back a few measures for review, or an entire week-old rehearsal to measure progress. Learn more. | 2016-2017 |
| Edquity: Preparing for College with Finances in Mind | Edquity is a software program for juniors and seniors in the AVID program - often the first of their family to go to college - to curate a list of feasible colleges based on GPA, ACT/SAT scores, and financial factors. Read more. | 2017-2018 |
| ¡A Bailar! Latin Dance Club | Salsa! Merengue! Cumbia! HEF will fund a residency conducted by professional Latin dancers Yeniel Chini Perez and Hanna Kuluvar Esparza. They will teach some of the most popular dances of the Spanish-speaking world in this after school club. Read more. | 2017-2018 |
| A Force to Be Reckoned with -- Awesome Fund Grant | With HEF’s Awesome Fund grant, The Technocrats will build a West Coast Drivetrain, enabling their robot to be light and agile, more reliable, and reduce the overall number of needed parts. Read more | 2017-2018 |
| Powerful Young Women Pay It Forward | This Awesome Fund grant will help expand the scope of Girls United MN, run by girls for girls, on a mission to empower and inspire the next generation of women leaders. These 80 young women at Hopkins High School are promoting STEM career paths and positive body image, introducing professional women as inspiration, and discussing multiple social issues with their peers. Read more | 2017-2018 |
| Love Yourself Project | HEF is funding the Love Yourself project, a campaign to promote positive messages of self confidence, self esteem, and body image, with the goal of improving student wellness. Read more | 2017-2018 |
| Student Wellness = Student Success | 2018 Royal Bash Special Appeal, year one of a two-year initiative. This Special Appeal funds after school mental health centers, a farm-to-table program, and teaching wellness strategies. Learn more | 2017-2018 |
| Opportunity=Access=Achievement: Closing the ACT Opportunity Gap | The ACT test is a high-stakes ‘entrance exam’ for college-bound students. HHS will offer a class specifically for those who have the desire, but not the means, to crack open this sometimes elusive window to higher education. Read more | 2018-2019 |
| Weightlifting Club | Current members of the new HHS Weightlifting Club (5 male, 1 female) hope to increase their number as they increase their individual strength. The Awesome Fund is adding to the basic equipment purchased by Hopkins High School; the expanded variety will improve participants’ technique and form. Read more | 2018-2019 |
| Technocrats Robotics Club | The Technocrats FIRST Robotics Club is taking their West Coast Drivetrain on the road to Alerus Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota for the Great Northern Regional Competition. The Technocrats will not find out the ‘game’ for the 2019 contest until January 5th, and then have six weeks to design, build and test their robot for competition. Read more | 2018-2019 |
| Gender Sexuality Alliance | Hopkins Education Foundation (HEF), through its Awesome Fund, has awarded a $365 grant to the Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA), a social activism group that works to promote an understanding of, and educate the student body in, LGBTQ+ issues. Read more | 2018-2019 |
| Creating a Speech Team | A group of five students is intent to restore Hopkins’ Speech Team after a lapse of inaction. The club’s goal is to increase public speaking opportunities and ability for any interested student, and also foster interest in writing. Learn more | 2018-2019 |
| Student Art 'Zine | This seed money will help print the first edition of ‘Reflections’, the re-booted annual art magazine, last offered in 2016-17. An editorial team of 5-10 students is eager to offer a voice and showcase for their peers’ creativity while learning the process of publishing a magazine. Learn more | 2018-2019 |
| Inspirational Canvas Paintings | The 80 members of Girls United MN, an established club at HHS, are embarking on a rigorous public relations campaign. They will create and post empowering positive quotes, pictures and affirmations in Hopkins High School girls’ bathrooms. Learn more | 2018-2019 |
| Smart-Pens Promote Independence | This pilot project has the very specific goal of breaking down barriers that keep students from meeting their full potential. Echo Smart-Pens offer students on the Autism spectrum the ability to keep up with the rigor they are capable of – while remaining in the general education classroom. Read more. | 2018-2019 |
| Student Wellness = Student Success | 2019 Royal Bash Special Appeal, year two of a two-year initiative. This Special Appeal funds after school mental health centers, a farm-to-table program, and teaching wellness strategies. Learn more | 2018-2019 |
| Student Wellness = Student Success | 2019 Royal Bash Special Appeal, year two of a two-year initiative. This Special Appeal funds after school mental health centers, a farm-to-table program, and teaching wellness strategies. Learn more | 2018-2019 |
| Breezin' Thru Theory | Music theory is the study of how musicians and composers literally make music, including tuning systems and composition methods, and it’s not easy. In this new approach, all HHS Choir students will now have access to Breezin’ Thru Theory, an online theory curriculum. Read more. | 2019-2020 |
| EmpowerU | EmpowerU is a highly personalized, online social-emotional course with embedded daily coaching from trained therapists. It is designed to overcome the kind of crippling anxiety that causes withdrawal and absenteeism. Read more. | 2019-2020 |
| La Oportunidad | La Oportunidad’s Young Professionals is a 15-session weekly afterschool curriculum focused on educating and empowering Latino/a young people. Taught through a cultural lens, it focuses on career opportunities, developing skills for higher education and/or the workplace, the practical aspects of applying to post-secondary ed and finding the funds to pay for it. Read more. | 2019-2020 |
| Green Halls | The 40+ students of Green Halls are on a mission to create a welcoming and connected environment by integrating plants throughout the halls of Hopkins High School. Read more | 2019-2020 |
| Gender and Sexuality Alliance | The Gender and Sexuality Alliance will host Qrom (Queer Prom), an annual LGBT inclusive prom for students across Minnesota. The event creates a safe space free of judgement, and empowers LGBT students and their allies to meet other LGBT youth and build community. Read more | 2019-2020 |
| TampAction | This group of determined young women is focused on eliminating menstrual stigma. They will provide high quality period products free of charge in an ‘Aunt Flow’ product dispenser at HHS. Read more | 2019-2020 |
| Girls Taking Action | A chapter of Girls Taking Action (GTA) has started at Hopkins High School with the exciting long-term goals of creating a nurturing and supportive community for our young women of color, of fostering a deeper connection between them and their school, and of empowering them to envision the many options in their future beyond high school. Learn more | 2019-2020 |
| Calming Corners | Food Shelf and Breakfast Carts is part of the 2020-2022 Pathways to a Healthier Future Special Appeal. Learn more. | 2019-2020 |
| Bigs Tutoring | HEF’s Awesome Fund for student clubs has awarded $1,000 to Bigs Tutoring, an inspiring group of Hopkins High School upperclassmen and alumni providing tutoring via video. This grant is the equivalent of 67 hours of tutoring, which will allow Bigs to offer free and reduced-price services to any student who needs it while proving a stipend to tutors. Learn more. | 2020-2021 |
| Albert.io | This user-friendly platform for AP History has received a big thumbs up from HHS students and staff in the past, and the ability for HEF to pick up the funding this year has been crucial for distance learners. Learn more | 2020-2021 |
| ACT Prep Class | How to Take the ACT offers equitable access to 11th grade scholars who traditionally do not have the means to take a class like this, and helps to level the playing field with their peers. As these students are already in distance learning, access to the online class will be free; this grant pays for the tutor’s time to work with, guide and support the students. Learn more | 2020-2021 |
| DJ Club | The new DJ Club will serve multiple purposes: a terrific creative outlet for students, a future replacement for the expensive DJ’s hired for prom and school dances, and cafeteria entertainment for students during lunch hour. This Awesome Fund grant is the seed money for the necessary equipment that will be used for years to come. Learn more | 2020-2021 |
| Girls United Wellness Kits | Girls United’s board of leaders will put together wellness kits for their active members, to help relieve stress and isolation, and build community as they gather online. Learn more | 2020-2021 |