The highlight of the Arts & Humanities Alliance of Jefferson County (AHA!) holiday party at the Bavarian Inn in Shepherdstown last week was the giving of $10,616 in Teaching Arts Creatively grants to 18 Jefferson County teachers from 12 area schools. Some 3,733 school children benefit from TAC grants that support arts activities in the classroom.

Awards were presented to the following elementary school teachers: Sherry Fiolek, Page Jackson for $802; Cheryl Crawford, Page Jackson for $500′ Amanda Groff, Shepherdstown for $363; Amanda Licea, Shepherdstown for $288; Sean Cookus, Rachel Mills, North Jefferson for $1000; Angela Holsinger, Driswood for $500; Judith A. Chesley, South Jefferson for $400; Pamela Shearer, South Jefferson for $476; Constance Balukoff, Blue Ridgefor $500; Constance Balukoff, Blue Ridge for $500; Nancy Guiney, C.W. Shipley for $500; and Bill Lanxner, T.A. Lowery for $500.

Also receiving awards were Robert Linde, Charles Town Middle, for $500 and Rachel Allen, Charles Town Middle for $650. High school educators who received grant awards included Steve Glendenning, Jefferson, for $1,000; Laura Borkholder, Washington for $502; and Jessica Ring, Washington for $510.

J.P. Lynch, Eastern WV Regional Jazz Festival, also received $525.

AHA’s mission is to promote the arts and humanities by creating cultural partnerships that enhance the quality of life in Jefferson County.