November 3, 2026 3:15 a.m.  

Cascade Community Credit Union has announced that it has awarded more than $30,000 in Chalkboard Grants to 83 Douglas County educators, helping local teachers bring creative, hands-on learning opportunities to life for students throughout the community.

A release from CCCU said through the Chalkboard Grant program, educators can receive up to $500 to fund classroom projects, supplies, and educational experiences that might otherwise be difficult to provide through traditional school budgets.

One project at Roseburg High School shows how these grants can turn classroom curiosity into real-world discovery. Physics and astronomy educators Shalena Lewis, Krystal Corum, and Devin Bowen joined together to support a collaborative project called the History of the Solar System Inquiry Lab. Their shared vision is to give students the opportunity to investigate authentic meteorites and explore the history of our solar system through hands-on scientific discovery.

The release said with grant funding, students will examine real meteorite specimens at laboratory stations, using tools such as magnets, balances, magnification, and polarized microscopy to investigate the rocks’ unique properties. Working in teams, students will gather evidence, classify their assigned specimens, and develop scientific explanations about the meteorites’ origins and the processes that helped shape our solar system.

Cascade Community CEO Lynn Ager said, “Investing in our educators is an investment in the future of Douglas County.” Ager said, “We know how much time, creativity, and heart our teachers put into their classrooms. We’re proud to support the people who make a difference in students’ lives every day.”