In October, Dowagiac Middle School language arts instructor Denise Stockwell submitted an application to Midwest Energy Cooperative for the company’s Strengthening Schools grant program. 

The project Stockwell presented for funding was “The Genre Project,” a literacy-based initiative designed to promote students reading a variety of texts during a school year. The project is based on research conducted by Donalyn Miller, showing that students should read multiple genres of books every school year in order to build comprehension. 

Stockwell was awarded a $400 grant in January for her classroom, and has been able to add over 60 books to her classroom library this year thanks to the donation.

Many STEM, biographies and informational books were purchased for eighth-grade students to read independently.

DMS appreciates Midwest Energy Cooperative’s continued support of Dowagiac students, school officials said.