By Bill Grubb

ROGERSVILLE - Students in the Hawkins County School System will benefit from a $499,100 USDA Rural Development Distance Learning Grant.
    The grant award, announced in September, will be used along with matching funds from the Niswonger Foundation and the Hawkins County and Greene County School Systems to implement distance learning programs at Clinch School and Cherokee High School along with West Greene, South Greene, North Greene and Chucky Doak high schools in Greene County.
    "I am excited about the opportunity to expand our curriculum offerings at Cherokee High School and Clinch School.  Our school system is very fortunate to have the support, interest, and expertise of the Niswonger Foundation in partnering with Greene and Hawkins County in obtaining the USDA Rural Development Grant," Hawkins County Director of Schools Charlotte Britton said.  
    "I feel that this grant will definitely provide our students with more course offerings and will help our school system in preparing our students for higher education or the workforce," she continued.
    A press release from Oliver Thomas, Executive Director of the Niswonger Foundation, commended the two school systems for working together on the grant.     
    "The opportunities that this Distance Learning Program will provide to the students of these school districts will be invaluable. From taking an AP Physics course to dual enrollment courses at Walters State or ETSU, the possibilities of this program to expand their existing curriculums will be exciting to watch unfold," the statement continued.
    "I want to personally thank Scott Niswonger for his willingness to provide the matching funds for the grant and place his confidence in this grant partnership meeting the 21st Century needs of the students of East Tennessee.  Both districts will begin work immediately to begin the process of procuring the equipment budgeted in the grant and start preparations for training in the spring 2009 semester," the statement concluded.
    "Receiving this grant for distance learning will give our students additional opportunities to succeed in their educational experiences," State Representative Mike Harrison said.
    "The USDA grant to Greene and Hawkins County Schools with the Niswonger Foundation will advance learning in these counties for students," said Congressman David Davis. "The counties, USDA and the Niswonger Foundation are to be commended for their investment in education for the First District."
    "I want to thank all involved in procuring this grant.  A special thanks to USDA Rural Development and the Niswonger Foundation for partnering with Hawkins and Greene counties, making possible the expansion of curriculum being taught at our high schools, especially in the rural areas of Hawkins County," Hawkins County Mayor Crockett Lee said.
    TRW of Rogersville allocated some start-up money allowing the county to apply for the grant, with Daronda Patterson noting TRW is a proud supporter of Hawkins County Schools and the RUS grant. TRW recognizes the importance of bringing state of the art of learning  technology to our community.
    The Greene/Hawkins/Niswonger Partnership was one of only 105 applications selected this year to receive funding from the USDA Rural Development Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program.  In Tennessee, 3 school district applications were approved, with 2  sponsored by the Niswonger Foundation.
    The Greene/Hawkins School Districts have procured partnerships with organizations such as the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, Tusculum College, Walters State Community College, East Tennessee State University, Hawkins County Memorial Hospital, Laughlin Memorial Hospital and Takoma Regional Hospital to ensure these goals will be met, school officials said.