The members of the Cherokee Foundation for Education are the background heroes here at Cherokee High School. In February 2010, the educational non-profit 501 (c)(3) was formed. Its goal is to bridge the gap in terms of financial support to help Cherokee students reach their academic goals.

While the Foundation assists clubs with materials, it also helps teachers in gaining more materials for the classroom and supports them financially. Since 2017, the Foundation has helped pay for school trips, like the Art department’s trip to the Barnes Foundation and the Concert Band’s performance at the Kimmel Center, new technology, scholarships, and so much more. Specifically for Scout, our school newspaper, the Foundation pays for the internet platform of our website and covers the fees and renewals that go with it. 

Current Treasurer Lisa Michaud was most proud of purchasing 10 TI-nspire calculators that get signed out to students who don’t have the financial means to buy their own. 

She says that “technology should be universally available to all students. So this one was one that I was particularly proud of.” 

Related to this, the Foundation also purchased rovers and hubs to be used with TI-nspire calculators. Those who went to the 2020 Craft Show may have seen them in action. The rovers and hubs help put math into motion and teach students coding, design, STEM material and robotics information.