OKLAHOMA CITY — Public school foundations from Fort Gibson, Moore and Muskogee will receive the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence’s 2026 Outstanding Program Awards for School Foundations.
OFE and its Oklahoma School Foundations Network present the Outstanding Program Awards annually to recognize innovative programs sponsored or administered by public school foundations in Oklahoma.
The 2026 award winners are:
- Tiger Tutoring, Fort Gibson Education Foundation
- Building Bridges, Moore Public Schools Foundation
- EFM Trivia Challenge, Education Foundation of Muskogee
Each public school foundation will receive a trophy and $2,000 award. Honorees are chosen based on the program’s impact on their school and community.
“Public school foundations positively impact our school communities in so many meaningful ways,” said OFE Executive Director Elizabeth Inbody. “Supporting and uplifting them is a vital part of OFE’s work, and we’re thrilled to honor these foundations.”
The Outstanding Program Award winners will be celebrated at OFE’s 40th annual Academic Awards Celebration on May 2 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Those wishing to attend can visit OFE.org for more information.
OFE is a statewide, nonpartisan nonprofit that elevates public education through esteemed honors, grants to K-12 mentoring programs, support for public school foundations and partnerships that provide exceptional professional development to educators. OFE’s Oklahoma School Foundations Network provides training, resources and networking opportunities for Oklahoma’s 200-plus public school foundations.
More Information on the Outstanding Program Award Recipients
Tiger Tutoring, Fort Gibson Education Foundation
Through the foundation’s partnership with Armstrong Bank, Fort Gibson High School students are gaining job experience while helping first graders learn.
Tiger Tutoring allows juniors and seniors to serve as after school tutors for first graders. They participate in a traditional hiring process that includes filling out applications, interviewing and completing new hire paperwork. Armstrong Bank provides the tutors with personal financial literacy training. Bank staff walk them through opening an account, initiating direct deposit and getting a debit card, along with providing education on fees and investing.
For three days a week, each high schooler works with two or three first graders on improving reading skills. The first graders are selected based on academic need, and each tutor is supervised by an early childhood teacher.
“This partnership demonstrates what’s possible when schools and businesses come together with a shared purpose,” said Cheryl Hill, principal of Fort Gibson Early Learning Center. “By investing in our youngest learners and empowering our high school students as leaders, we are strengthening not only academic achievement, but the future of our entire community.”
Building Bridges, Moore Public Schools Foundation
This innovative program focuses on removing housing insecurity as a barrier to education. The foundation is collaborating with Moore Public Schools and the nonprofit organization Bridges of Oklahoma to provide housing and support services for high school students experiencing homelessness or family crisis.
Thanks to funds raised through a capital campaign, duplex-style housing is being built to bring safe, affordable housing to students who don’t have a stable place to live.
“Our mission is to enhance, enrich and expand students’ educational experiences throughout the district, and this campaign is a natural extension of that work because students cannot fully learn without stability,” said Lizzy Bozarth, executive director of the Moore Public Schools Foundation. “What began with students raising the first dollars through Moore Love has grown into a village that will serve generations of young people facing family crisis.”
Students will also receive individualized wraparound support such as case management, connections to community resources and education on life skills and job readiness.
Construction is expected to finish this fall, and the program will serve at least 20 students annually.
EFM Trivia Challenge, Education Foundation of Muskogee
The foundation’s annual fundraiser brings together the Muskogee community to engage in a friendly game of team trivia. EFM Trivia Challenge is still going strong after more than 20 years. It draws around 450 participants and has significant corporate sponsorship, with more than 40 tables sold each year.
The event brings in $35,000 to $45,000 annually, allowing the foundation to grow its endowment and increase the number of grants it provides to classroom teachers. More than 40 grants are funded annually, and an off-cycle grant application has been established to meet needs that arise throughout the year.
Foundation board member Melony Carey said the event has been an excellent way to unite the community in support of education.
“When the adults are challenged to test their knowledge in an evening of trivia, learning and education come to the forefront of everyone’s thinking,” Carey said. “And it’s fun for a good cause!”
