Grant awarded to Elon Academy provides financial support for sustainable gardening, science enrichment programs
The Elon Academy recently received a grant from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund to provide financial support for Elon University students to work with high school students in the Elon Community Garden through a gardening class. The grant, which includes more than $169,000 from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Student Science Enrichment Program, allows students to take a first hand look at growing food and the nutritional value it holds, according to Deborah Long, director of the Elon Academy. Long said she noticed the lack of nutrition in high school students and recognized many students live in what she calls “food deserts” — a problem compounded by busy families who don’t have time to cook. “Food deserts are areas where there isn’t a lot of opportunity for students to get nutritional food,” Long said.
