CREEDE— Creede Schools recently received a $10,000 award from the Paul Stone Memorial Foundation gifted to them through the Ladies Aid Society.

The funding was made possible through the foundation and was split between the Creede Repertory Theatre and the Ladies Aid per the wishes of beloved resident Paul Stone. According to Superintendent Lis Richard, the Ladies Aid played a huge role in the last moments of Stone’s and made a huge impression on him through their kindness and devotion. Stone left the society and the theatre a total of $60,000 that was to be used as they saw fit.

Through a request prompted by the Ladies Aid, Richard sent a letter of request for funding to help with start up costs associated with the school’s new career and technical educational program that will begin at the start of the new year. “I did some research on Paul and realized that his beloved eccentric behavior, that he was known for, would have landed him in any one of the classes we are going to offer had he attended school here,” said Richard.

In the letter submitted by Richard to Ladies Aid she states, “If Paul Stone attended Creede High School today, he would have a hard time sitting still in one of our traditional classes. He would be one (like many of our young men) who was looking forward to getting into one of the programs. He would be so excited to get his hands on the many machines and equipment used in these programs.”

In partnership with a former student and current staff member, Richard is bringing the Career and Technical education program that will offer several career-based classes to students. The program will consist of automotive, engineering, graphic design, woodshop and welding come January. These courses will be dual credit courses that will include both high school credits as well as college credits for students who participate in the program.

Former student Jason Whitehorn left Creede to pursue a military career where he achieved Lieutenant Major status after which he decided to come back to help teach students at the school. Whitehorn will be teaching the engineering, woodshop and graphic design courses while Dave Richard, who is the current transportation director, will teach welding and automotive courses. “The program will teach technical skills to students who want to enter those types of jobs in the future,” explained Richard.

Now, with the funding awarded to the school through the foundation, the classes will have start up costs covered. Both teachers will have the means to purchase state of the art equipment and supplies to ensure the students get the highest level of education to better serve them in their future endeavors. “We were beyond excited to have received the funding, and to know that it serves Mr. Stone’s memory makes it even better,” said Richard.

There will be an additional agricultural program added to the list of classes available to students that will be done as an internship-based program with the county.