(COLUMBIA, MO) – A group of high school students from Columbia Public Schools spent their spring break using Washington, D.C., as a living classroom, thanks to a grant from the Columbia Public Schools Foundation (CPSF).

The $8,000 CPSF grant provided scholarships for four 11^th grade students from Battle and Rock Bridge High Schools to participate in the Close Up educational experience in Washington, D.C., from March 24-29, 2019.

Students attended workshops and seminars on civic topics and issues, and also had the opportunity to visit monuments and museums.

“The Columbia Public Schools Foundation is proud to provide these scholarships to high school students,” said Cindy Mustard, CPSF board president. “Their experiences through the Close Up program will lead them to become more committed and engaged citizens.”

Established in 1971, Close Up is the nation’s leading nonprofit, nonpartisan civic education organization. Close Up’s high school programs are designed to give students and educators an inside look at their democracy in action.

The Columbia Public Schools Foundation is a private foundation established by community volunteers dedicated to the enrichment of public education through community giving. The Foundation has funded projects in every school, allocating more than $1.2 million to enhance education in the Columbia Public Schools. CPSF was founded in 1996 and has supported teachers and students for more than 23 years.