WINTON – Nucor Steel presented the Hertford County Schools Foundation with a check for $20,000 Monday night.

“It has been rewarding for us to work with the Hertford County School District and help find ways to enrich the education of Hertford County’s children,” Nucor Steel Plant Manager Giff Daughtridge said.

Nucor teamed up with Hertford County Schools to create the Nucor Educational Initiative and came up with a three-pronged strategy to improve education.

The strategy employs a program known as Nucor Scholars. This program provides grants to teachers who are willing to undergo the National Board certification process and provides scholarship money for teachers trying to achieve advanced degrees.

“About a year and half ago, Giff Daughtridge and I talked about ways that Nucor could help make a significant impact on the quality of education for our students and staff,” Hertford County Schools Superintendent Dennis Deloatch said. “Many teachers don’t have the dollars to pay for the cost of pursuing advanced degrees and National Boards and this support program will assist our teachers in meeting some of the basic needs of continuing their education to a higher level.”

“I am happy to report great results so far on all three of these fronts,” Daughtridge added.

Ten teachers have begun the process of certification and 20 teachers are working towards advanced degrees.

“We are very proud of these teachers and we appreciate their willingness to enhance their education,” Daughtridge said.

Nucor held a breakfast Monday morning to personally thank the teachers that have taken advantage of the scholarship program.

“Nucor is willing and excited to offer the resources to help, but it takes people who are willing to invest their own time and energy to be better prepared to educate the children,” Daughtridge added. “These teachers make Nucor’s efforts meaningful.”

The third part of the initiative involves helping the Partners for Hertford County Schools Foundation.

“I would like to present a check for $20,000 to Foundation Chairman James Eure and Superintendent Deloatch,” Daughtridge said.

“The commitment that Nucor has made will lead the way for other businesses, agencies, organizations and individuals to take an important role in making contributions to the foundation that supports the educational programs that will affect Hertford County in years to come,” Deloatch added.

“The foundation’s focus is to provide supportive services through endowments, scholarships, mini-grants and contributions to support students, teachers and educational programs in the Hertford County School System,” Deloatch said.

As an incentive to encourage other people to become involved in the foundation, Nucor is offering another $10,000 in matching funds. Nucor will match dollar for dollar all donations made to the foundation this school year up to $10,000.

“I would like to encourage anyone who is considering an endowment or scholarship in recognition of an individual or business; or anyone who just wants to make a contribution to make it before July 1, 2006,” Deloatch added.

“We certainly hope everyone in the county will join us in recognizing that this is a worthy recipient of our citizen’s donations,” Daughtridge said

“I can’t thank Nucor enough for this,” Hertford County Board of Education Chairman David Shields said. “This is just another example of their willingness to partner with Hertford County Schools.”

Contact Dennis Deloatch, Annette Thompson or James Eure for more information at 358-1761.