The Regional Office of Education #3 says Aspire High School and TriStar Academy in Effingham have been awarded two major grants to help expand student opportunities in the arts, emotional regulation, and leadership development.

Funding from the Bill and Jacquelyn Jordan Anderson Fund for Visual Arts will supply essential art materials, giving students the chance to strengthen their creativity while using art as a positive outlet to build peer connections and emotional balance.

The 2025 Siemer Milling Company Fund for Youth Leadership Development will provide tools and resources to enhance leadership programs. That includes new technology for multimedia projects and Neurologic workbooks to help students build resilience and manage stress.

Together, administration says, these grants will help ROE3’s Aspire and TriStar programs continue their mission of developing the whole student encouraging creativity, confidence, and leadership both inside and outside the classroom.

ROE #3 serves Bond, Christian, Effingham, Fayette, and Montgomery counties, offering alternative education programs designed to meet the unique needs of students through individualized learning and personal growth.