TUSD's OMA Program Receives $40,000 Grant

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Estella Zavala or Jennea Moore, 225-6437 
Posted on: March 31, 2004

Over 250 TUSD first-graders will benefit from a $40,000 Marshall Foundation grant recently awarded to the district's Opening Minds Through the Arts program, also known as OMA.

The grant will be used to bring University of Arizona opera program graduate students into three TUSD elementary schools: Howell, Corbett, and Lynn/Urquides. These student artists will implement the first-grade OMA curriculum component, which focuses on language acquisition and literacy development. Through learning and performing original opera works, OMA has proven to enhance first-grade students' language and writing abilities.

OMA, currently in 27 TUSD schools, is designed to fully engage the multiple intelligences of students by infusing the arts into all lessons, through collaboration with local artists and art-based organizations. During its first two years, OMA made significant progress helping at-risk students succeed by integrating the arts with core curriculum.

The Marshall Foundation is a local, non-profit organization that was established in 1930 by former University of Arizona professor Louise Marshall. Over the years the foundation has donated millions of dollars to educational institutions and charities around Tucson.

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