Photo by Amy Cherry St. Marys McDonald's owner/operator Linda Hoffman (far right) presents a check and certificate to St. Marys Area Middle School teachers Fawn McMakin (middle) and Cherri Gigliotti (second from left). Also shown in the photo is SMAMS Principal Jim Wortman.

By Amy Cherry

Staff Writer

St. Marys Area Middle School teachers Cherri Gigliotti and Fawn McMackin were each recently awarded a $500 grant from McDonald's.

Linda Hoffman, owner/operator of the St. Marys McDonald's, presented both teachers with certificates and checks during a visit to the school.

Gigliotti said she planned to utilize the grant to help fund the middle school’s Civil War encampment, scheduled for May 7 at the school.

The encampment has either been scaled down or not taken place in recent years. Gigliotti is in the process of re-vamping the event. Currently she is planning a Civil War ball at the school scheduled for February 16.

McMackin is planning to purchase various classroom materials for her health class with the grant funding.

Among the anticipated materials are a Smoky Sue display which shows the deadly effects of cigarette smoking on the body. As the small doll “smokes,” demonstration tubes collect tars from the cigarettes, showing what is being ingested into a human body.

Other materials McMackin is looking to purchase are an interactive CD-ROM with students participating in lessons about drugs and alcohol as well as a decision making game.

Hoffman said the grants are awarded each year to teachers within Elk County.

St. Marys Area Middle School Principal Jim Wortman said past winners at the school have included Sue McDonough, who purchased graphing calculators, and Mr. Murray for science-related items.

Teachers submit an application along with a project description, its cost and what exactly the money would be utilized for.

Hoffman explained the winners are chosen by an independent board. The St. Marys eatery is a member of the Johnstown-Altoona co-op consisting of a group of 40 restaurants.

The grants are a part of the corporation’s MAC grants.

“We’ve always had a good response from the teachers from around here,” Hoffman said. “I can’t think of a year that we haven’t given out the grant. This is the fun part of having the business.”

This year 15 teachers from the area applied for the grants.

Linda along with her husband, Bill, took ownership of the St. Marys McDonald's in 1991.