After a two-year winning streak by U.S. Jones Elementary, Demopolis High School took home the coveted Schoolfest trophy, awarded by the Education Foundation to the school that raises the most money during Schoolfest.

“Demopolis High School raised $7,100 overall during the annual fundraiser, and the system as a whole raised more than $24,000,” said Foundation Director Jan McDonald. “I was amazed.”

She said the high school also boasted 100 percent faculty participation and had even managed to get administrators, students and parents involved in the fundraising.

“We have done this every year since the foundation was established, and it has become quite a competition,” McDonald said. “Angenell Jones (of DHS) thanked everyone when she accepted the trophy, but she also said ‘our main goal was to beat U.S. Jones.'”

McDonald said everything raised during Schoolfest is used for grants to fund projects, supplies and other needs at the various schools.

“One thing last year really peaked everyone’s attention,” she said, noting that one teacher had asked for a microscope projector.

“It attaches to the teacher’s microscope and projects what she’s seeing onto a screen so her students can see what they should be looking at,” McDonald said.

She said other grants have gone toward the purchase of reading initiative items such as books, sets of books and other library or classroom enhancements.

Teachers interested in 2004-2005 school year grants have until Aug. 26 to apply.

What the Schoolfest money is not used for is the foundation itself.

“We told the teachers from day one all money raised during schoolfest would go to these grants,” she said. “We try to raise money in other ways to pay for the foundation.”

She said the goal this year for fundraising was a “Hallelujah” $1 million.

“We’ve raised about $465,000 so far,” she said.