Alum, graduate student earns grant to expand educational opportunities for students

March 18, 2026-A Missouri Western State University alumna and current graduate student has received a $20,000 grant to enrich her woodshop class at Central High School.

Jennifer Fitzpatrick '24, a Master of Arts in Teaching student from St. Joseph, received the grant from Sheet Metal Workers Local Union No. 2 and Kansas City's 96.5 The Fan radio station earlier this month. The grant money will be used to bring new equipment and utilities for Fitzpatrick's woodshop class and its historic St. Joseph signs project, which asked students to select a historic business from St. Joseph and recreate signs using their woodwork and design skills.

"I had a lot of outreach from community members that loved the project. People wanted to buy some of the signs or wanted certain signs made," Fitzpatrick said. "It gave me the idea of how this could really expand and I saw the opportunity to apply for this grant."

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Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. MoWest is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.