8 San Diego Area Teachers Awarded Grants For Class Projects

SAN DIEGO, CA — North Island Credit Union Foundation has awarded $5,000 in grants to teachers in Riverside and San Diego counties to support innovative learning opportunities.

The $500 grants through the foundation's Fall 2025 Teacher Grant program will support a variety of class projects in the region, including creating a school garden for special education students, supporting a cultural arts and poetry event, starting a plant-based culinary training program for high schoolers, and funding a biotech crime scene course.

"At North Island Credit Union Foundation, we believe great communities start with great classrooms," North Island Credit Union Foundation President Marvel Ford said in a statement. "These grants celebrate the educators who go above and beyond to engage their students and spark a love of learning. We're proud to support their work and the positive impact it has across our schools."

Eight San Diego area teachers and two Inland Empire teachers were awarded grants.

These are the fall 2025 grant recipients:

• Shannon Alcorta, Mt. Carmel High School, San Diego
• Brian Freeman, San Jacinto Valley Academy, San Jacinto
• Abraham Hanono, Eastlake High School, Chula Vista
• Latrisha Hernandez, Logan Memorial Education Campus, San Diego
• Cynthia Hurley, Summit Academy, Winchester
• Vanessa Medellin, High Tech Middle School, Chula Vista
• Zeinab Mohamed, Iftin Charter School, San Diego
• Katherine Quinly, Coronado High School, Coronado
• Erin Savage, Morning Creek Elementary School, San Diego
• Shawn L. Thomas, San Diego Academy, National City

Since the creation of the program in 2012, North Island Credit Union and its foundation have awarded $225,000 in teacher grants, according to the organization. As many as 20 grants are awarded bi-annually in the spring and fall.