MEGA—Milan Endowment for Growth in Academics

07/26/2025

I am so proud of this group. MEGA embodies the best of Milan.

09/13/2022

Many thanks to The Mirror-Exchange newspaper for publicizing the 2022 Special Gifts campaign for the Milan Endowment for Growth in Academics. Thanks to folks who have made contributions, and we hope others will join to help provide more school extras for Milan students. MEGA gave over $32,000 to Milan schools this year. When MEGA was created, the goal was to help make Milan schools one of the best systems in the state academically. The MEGA board of directors continues working toward that goal.

08/27/2022

MEGA SPECIAL GIFTS CAMPAIGN – Volunteers and some members of the board of directors for MEGA, the Milan Endowment for Growth in Academics, worked Aug. 22 processing a mailout of over 400 letters asking for contributions to the organization.
MEGA, a private endowment built by local donors, has provided over $740,000 to Milan schools for academic extras since 1991. Only dividends from the endowment are allocated.
Nearly $32,500 in grants were awarded to teachers for the current 2022-23 school year.
Pictured helping with the Special Gifts Campaign were (clockwise from bottom) Thorne Barbour, Clay McCoy, Michael Carter, Alyson McCoy, Denise Clemmer, Cary Allen Burke, Sullivan Burke, Ashley Niven and Bruce Niven. Not pictured: Julie Allen Ward and Steve Short.

08/27/2022

MEGA's annual Special Gifts fundraising campaign began Aug. 23 with a mailout of over 400 letters to Milan residents and supporters asking for contributions to continue growing the endowment.
The MEGA Board of Directors is pleased to provide this update on the endowment fund and recent grants awarded to Milan schools:
• 1,032 grants have been awarded in 32 years
• $740,389.91 total grant funds awarded since 1991
• 29 grants awarded for the 2022-2023 school year
• 2021–2022 grants totaled $32,449.67

08/22/2022

MEGA AWARDS OVER $32,000 TO MILAN SCHOOLS FOR 2202-23..
Students in Milan schools will benefit from over $32,000 in grants for new classroom equipment and special programs promoting academics and the arts during the 2022-23 school year.
For the 32nd year, MEGA, the Milan Endowment for Growth in Academics, is awarding grants to Milan teachers to pay for classroom “extras,” including high tech lab equipment; innovative programs teaching science, math, history, reading and other subjects; student field trips; and experiences in graphic arts, theater and music.
29 new MEGA grants totaling $32,449.67 were announced by the organization’s president, Bruce Niven and awarded to teachers at the 2022-23 school year kick-off breakfast at Milan High School
on Aug. 2.
“I am humbled and honored to represent the fifteen dedicated and committed members of the board of MEGA,” Niven said. “We
are all proud to be carrying on the work that started with an idea from Ben and Tina Huey thirty-two years ago.”

08/22/2022

08/22/2022

HONORARY GRANT WINNER - AMANDA JONES
Each year, MEGA awards special grants that pay tribute to individuals and a local industry that made extraordinary contributions to the organization.
Blake and Sara Wilkinson were two of the leaders who founded the MEGA organization.
The winner of the BLAKE AND SARA WILKINSON GRANT was Milan Elementary School teacher, Amanda Jones (right). She received funding of $2,200 to implement Legends of Learning, a math and science initiative for students in K-4th grade.
Making the grant presentation was MEGA board member, Jackie Parr.

08/22/2022

HONORARY GRANT WINNER - NATHAN NICHOLAS
Each year, MEGA awards special grants that pay tribute to individuals and a local industry that made extraordinary contributions to the organization.
CECO Door Products manufacturing under manager Frank Kos donated $10,000 in seed money in 1989 to start MEGA and followed up with large contributions in subsequent years.
The winner of the 2022-23 CECO DOOR PRODUCTS GRANT was Nathan Nicholas, a teacher at Milan Middle School. He received 4 grants totaling $3,132 to fund science programs: Blowing in the Wind, Maze Run, and Electricity & Magnetism; and equipment, an Additive Manufacturing 3-D Printer.
Milan Middle School Principal Chris Jones (center) accepted the grants for Mr. Nicholas from MEGA board member, Jackie Parr (left) and MEGA President Bruce Niven.

08/22/2022

HONORARY GRANT WINNER - ALLISON ARCHIE
Each year, MEGA awards special grants that pay tribute to individuals and a local industry that made extraordinary contributions to the organization.
Allie Vee Fly Blankenship bequeathed $40,000 to MEGA, the largest contribution by an individual donor.
The winner of the ALLIE VEE FLY BLANKENSHIP GRANT for 2022-23 was Allison Archie (left). Ms. Archie, an art teacher at Milan High School, received a total of $3,550 for three grants to fund arts programs that will impact students in 9th through 12th grade: Arts are Amazing, College Art Day, and Museum Madness.
Presenting the Blankenship Grant was MEGA board member, Jackie Parr.