$50,000 SK hynix Support Helps PSFTC Grow Grant Opportunities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
$50,000 SK hynix Support Helps PSFTC Grow Grant Opportunities for Teachers and Students
LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Continued support from SK hynix is helping the Public Schools Foundation of Tippecanoe County (PSFTC) sustain and grow expanded grant opportunities for educators and students across Tippecanoe County’s public schools.
An initial contribution of $50,000 from SK hynix in 2025 gave PSFTC the opportunity to think bigger about its grantmaking. With that support, the Foundation increased the maximum award for its long-standing Seeds for Excellence teacher grant program from $2,000 to $3,000 in spring 2026 and developed an entirely new funding opportunity designed to put resources behind student ideas.
That new program, Student Spark Grants, was launched in fall 2026 to provide funding for student clubs and organizations. The inaugural grant cycle recently concluded, with more than 40 student organizations selected to receive funding.
The first group of recipients reflects the wide range of ways students are learning, leading and connecting outside the classroom — from art, music and culture to athletics, service, leadership and academic competition. Among them are several organizations giving students hands-on opportunities in STEM fields, including Battle Ground Middle School Robotics, Competitive Programming Club, Girls Who Code and West Lafayette Science Olympiad.
For SK hynix, a global leader in semiconductor technology, those student experiences provide a particularly meaningful connection between an investment in local public schools and opportunities for young people to explore technology, problem-solving and innovation.
Now, a second $50.000 contribution from SK hynix ensures PSFTC can continue the growth made possible by that initial investment — maintaining the higher Seeds for Excellence funding level and continuing Student Spark Grants in future cycles.
“For 40 years, our Seeds for Excellence grants have helped educators turn great ideas into meaningful opportunities for students,” said Christine Isbell, PSFTC executive director. “SK hynix’s initial support allowed us to increase what we could offer our teachers while also giving us the freedom to try something completely new. Now that we’ve seen the enthusiasm for Student Spark Grants firsthand, this second gift gives us the confidence and resources to keep building on that momentum.”
Student Spark Grants are designed to put students at the center of the process, supporting clubs and organizations where young people can explore interests, develop ideas, work collaboratively and take an active role in shaping their school experience.
“Student clubs give young people a chance to discover what interests them and, just as importantly, what they’re capable of,” said Brady Kalb, PSFTC vice president and founder of Skyepack Career +. “Whether a student is coding, building a robot, competing in Science Olympiad, creating art, leading a service project or trying something completely new, those experiences build skills like problem-solving, collaboration and initiative. Student Spark Grants give students the resources to explore those interests now, and those experiences can become the spark that helps them begin imagining what might be possible for their future.”
For PSFTC, the impact of the partnership goes beyond individual grant awards. SK hynix’s support has allowed the Foundation to broaden how it encourages innovation in local schools — investing more deeply in educator-led ideas while creating a new avenue for ideas and experiences driven by students themselves.
“This partnership is a great example of what can happen when a community partner invests not just in a single project, but in possibility,” Isbell said. “SK hynix has helped us strengthen a program that has served local educators for decades and create something entirely new for students. We’re incredibly grateful for their continued investment in our public schools.”
About PSFTC
The Public Schools Foundation of Tippecanoe County supports and enhances public education in Lafayette School Corporation, Tippecanoe School Corporation and West Lafayette Community School Corporation. Through grants, recognition programs and community partnerships, PSFTC connects community resources with opportunities that enrich teaching and learning throughout Tippecanoe County.
Media Contact:
Christine Isbell, Executive Director
Public Schools Foundation of Tippecanoe County
[email protected] / 765-337-4434