CYPRESS Grant to Attend the Belfer National Conference at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

CYPRESS (Committee to Promote Respect in Schools) is pleased to offer teachers  of local schools this grant opportunity for professional growth. One thousand dollars will be awarded to supplement travel and hotel costs while attending the Belfer National Conference for Educators in Washington, D.C. Applicants for the CYPRESS Grant must first register for the Belfer National Conference before the CYPRESS application will be reviewed. Funds are contingent upon the applicant’s acceptance to the Belfer Conference. WE RECOMMEND you apply to the Belfer Conference at the earliest possible date, as these sessions fill up quickly! 

The Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Conference is open to pre-service teachers, middle and high school educators and community college faculty who have not previously attended the Belfer Conference. Funded by a grant from the Belfer Foundation, the Washington, D.C. conference offers approaches and strategies for teaching about the Holocaust. Participants get a chance to tour the museum after hours and receive a set of educational materials from the Museum. The conference consists of two different sessions: one designed for English language arts teachers, while the other session is for social studies/history teachers. Educators teaching outside of those disciplines are encouraged to choose either session.

The cost of the Belfer Conference is free to educators, and additional scholarships are available. Please refer to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum website at https://www.ushmm.org/educators/professional-events-and-resources/belfer-educators-conference

The intent of the CYPRESS Belfer Grant is to encourage and assist those teachers wishing to increase their knowledge base to benefit their classroom teaching skills. According to their website, the Belfer Conference is designed to assist educators in designing “lesson plans that focus on teaching diverse audiences and the relevance of the Holocaust today; and networks with educators from around the country.”

Applications must be received electronically. Late applications will not be accepted. The applicant and building principal or supervising administrator must sign the application cover page.

CYPRESS committee members will select recipients. Notification of request outcome will be via email.

Grant applicants should strictly adhere to the format of this application. Additional attachments will not be accepted for committee review.

Grant recipients will be required to submit a brief summary at the end of next school year on how the grant funds were used to improve educational and instructional effectiveness in the classroom. For more information, contact us at CYPRESSEvansville[at]gmail.com.