Jan Larson McLaughlin
BG Independent News
Carolyn Ulsh retired from teaching before technology became a staple in the classroom. However, when she passed away in her 2020, she left her memorial at Bowling Green High School.
At a Bowling Green School Board meeting on Tuesday, high school principal Dan Black announced that Ursch had left a “significant” memorial for use in student learning.
“What she did will impact students for years to come,” Black said.
Ursch, a former Latin teacher and BGHS guidance counselor from 1964 to 1985, left nearly $500,000 in high school.
“I think it’s deeply ironic that a former Latin teacher is funding a robotics program,” said board member Norm Gere when contacted later in the week. Told.
Ulsh was Norm and Tari Geer’s next-door neighbor for twenty years.
“High school was her life,” said Gere, who represented Ursch. “She really cared about people. She really cared about her children. They were like her children.”
“She wanted everyone to feel important, smart, and have something to offer,” says Tari Geer.
As a school counselor, Ulsh notices that some students are having trouble getting higher education.
As such, a portion of her memorial will be used for scholarships for seniors to enter the field of education, with at least two students receiving $2,500 annually, renewable for four years.
The scholarship fund is “meaningful,” says Geer. Once operational, the fund will offer scholarships of up to $40,000 annually.
“This is important,” says Geer.
Gere explained that the Ursch Memorial Fund will continue to benefit students “indefinitely” because it is not used for very conservative investments.
“I want the money to be spent,” he said, as well as grow slowly.
Part of the memorial will also be used to bring more technology into the classroom. “It wasn’t in our budget,” he says Geer. But by investing Ulsh’s donation, the school district should have money to spend on robotics equipment for years to come.
“All of these things will be available for years to come,” says Geer.
High school STEAM teams focused on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math determined the best uses for the first round of funding. With $10,000 available each year, this year’s funds were used to purchase a robot for his computer science class taught by KC Hale.
Hale unveiled two robotic vehicles to the board of directors and gave board members Tracy Hovest and Ryan Myers the remote controls for racing.
Bringing robotics into the classroom prepares students for the future and motivates them to learn, Hale said.
“It’s just amazing. It’s really a journey to see,” he said.
The memorial is also used to purchase equipment for the Arts Department, allowing students to print, engrave, score, and cut cork, wood, and acrylic, cut intricate designs on paper, and write letters on textiles and food. could be printed.
Art teacher Nikki Myers says the new equipment will allow students to explore careers in technology and work together.
“We wanted to find a way to get these kids to cooperate,” Myers said.
A high school room currently used for STEAM classes will be dedicated to Ursch. Using art supplies purchased with the Memorial Fund, the students created a slate sign with Ursch paintings engraved on it. The room, due to be completed later this year, is what the students call the “mind cave.”
According to Myers, the slate sign was a perfect fit for Ursch, who had a passion for collecting rocks from all over the world. “It’s pretty sweet.”