.png)
Apalachee High School will soon offer staff and students dedicated spaces to reset and recharge during the school day thanks to the Georgia United Credit Union Foundation in partnership with Georgia United Credit Union. AHS has been selected as one of the 2025 Georgia United Foundation School Crashers® program grant recipients. The program helps enhance school environments based off nominations from the community.
For AHS, several people sent nominations requesting the need for an area in the building that would help support mental health. In response, a Calming Room will be created for students, featuring sensory elements and mental health resources, while a Faculty Recharge Room will offer staff a peaceful environment with calming features and comfortable furniture.
“Georgia United School Crashers is honored and humbled to contribute to Apalachee High School’s ongoing healing process and foster a sense of safety and unity within this school that has suffered immeasurable loss,” shared Laura King, President of Georgia United Credit Union.
AHS Principal Jessica Rehberg said, “We appreciate Georgia United getting to know us and understand exactly what we need in a space that is so sacred and special to us. Their generosity will help our students and staff when they come back in the fall. It means a lot to us that this won’t disrupt instruction now but enhance instruction after summer break.”
Two of the nominations read:
- "I believe this school needs some sort of hands on, quiet room or creative/debriefing area in the school where students and staff can go to relax throughout the day or for an allotted time.”
- "A makeover for this high school is more than just a cosmetic transformation - it's a vital step towards healing and recovery. By incorporating calming elements, vibrant colors, and inspiring artwork, we can create a nurturing atmosphere that supports the wellbeing and success of our students and staff.”
(L-R) Joey Murphy, BCSS Project Manager; Kelcie Zimmer, AHS Recovery Coordinator; Barbara Smith, AHS Assistant Principal; Laura King, Georgia United Credit Union President; Jessica Rehberg, AHS Principal; Joe Perno, BCSS Assistant Superintendent System Operations; Dr. Al Darby, BCSS Chief Administrative Officer for Athletics & Student Activities; Angie Boyd, AHS Assistant Principal; Kim Wall, Georgia United Foundation Community Development Director
More about School Crashers:
The School Crashers nomination period opened in mid-December to all accredited K-12 schools in Georgia. Interested schools were asked to include a photograph along with a 250-word essay describing why their school should receive a makeover. Nominations were received from 212 applicant schools by the January 31 deadline. After a rigorous judging process, multiple schools are slated to receive school improvements over the summer.
Funding for the School Crashers program is provided by the Georgia United Foundation and generous donations made by community partners. If you or your organization would like to contribute to this summer’s makeover programs, visit www.gucufoundation.org/donate. To learn more about the School Crashers program and see photos of past recipients, visit gucufoundation.org/schoolcrashers.
About Georgia United Foundation & Georgia United Credit Union
Georgia United Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life for children and families in the communities it serves through impactful programs funded through corporate contributions and delivered via volunteer efforts from team members and community partners. The foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization and is the philanthropic arm of Georgia United Credit Union.
Georgia United Credit Union is an award-winning financial leader and partner in education. Headquartered in Duluth, Georgia United is ranked as one of the state’s largest credit unions with $2.2 billion in assets and more than 150,000 members. As a full-service financial institution, Georgia United offers competitive products and services for every stage of life.