Logan Health awards 14 Healthy Classrooms Grants to local educators

Logan Health is proud to announce the recipients of its Spring 2025 Healthy Classrooms Grants, awarding 14 grants to educators across northwestern and central Montana. The grant program supports classroom initiatives that promote health and wellness, safety, and community health needs in schools located within Logan Health’s service areas.

The Healthy Classrooms Grant program was created to empower educators in creating healthier learning environments for students. Grants are awarded twice annually — in the spring and fall — to support innovative projects that enhance physical, mental, and social well-being. These grants have supported a wide range of initiatives, from flexible seating arrangements that improve posture and concentration, to mindfulness corners that help students manage stress, to hands-on gardening projects that teach nutrition and encourage healthy eating habits.

Gail Hofstad, a counselor for Conrad Schools and recent grant recipient, is using the grant funds to institute a healthy snack program to address food insecurity. “I work as the 7-12 Counselor for Conrad Schools, and I witness the tired and bedraggled kids that come in the morning needing something, anything, to eat. Students who are hungry can’t perform like their counterparts who are consistently fed. This will help with the academic area for those who are in need of sustenance and can have a more level playing field.”

Spring 2025 Logan Health Healthy Classrooms Grant Recipients:

• Amy Conrey Andreas, Browning High School
• Alexandra Case, Galata Elementary School
• Ross Darner, Evergreen SD50
• Kari Hinkle, Cut Bank High School
• Gail Hofstad, Conrad 7–12
• Alisa Jones, Marion School District 54
• Courtney McCord, Glacier Gateway Elementary School
• Devin McClayland, Conrad High School
• Leanne McDonough, Shelby Elementary School
• Jessica Myers, North Star Schools – Jr High/High School
• Kimberly Riech, Lakeside Elementary School
• Monique Rivas, Browning Public Schools Childcare
• Mona Shortman, Zenith Elementary, Grade K–8 Cut Bank
• Kathleen Theis, Marion School

“We’re inspired by the dedication of these educators to support student wellness and are excited to help bring their ideas to life,” said Mellody Sharpton, vice president of marketing and communications at Logan Health. “We see these grants as an investment in the well-being of local children. By promoting physical and emotional wellness at an early age, these projects help lay the groundwork for healthier communities in the years to come.”

Logan Health looks forward to continuing its support of educators through the Healthy Classrooms Grant Program. Applications for the next round of funding will open in the fall of 2025.

For more information about the Healthy Classrooms Grant Program, visit logan.org.