The Academy of Arts & Sciences, a program offered by the Church of the Apostles United Church of Christ, 1850 Marietta Ave., Lancaster, recently announced a $1,000 grant it will provide to the Hempfield Foundation. The grant will support the foundation's efforts to fund various science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics projects in Hempfield School District schools.

This is the first year the Academy of Arts & Sciences has partnered with the Hempfield Foundation. In the past, the academy has used a portion of its funds to offer various scholarships for students to receive an education in music, including the instrument and voice lessons. Due to a lack of applicants in the last year, the academy decided to use the scholarship funds to offer a grant to the Hempfield Foundation. The foundation will use the grant to help teachers sustain various enrichment projects and educational opportunities for students in the 2024-25 academic year.

"We would love to work with the Hempfield Foundation again," said Lars Potteiger, director of music ministries at the Academy of Arts & Sciences. "They're our neighbors here. As long as we have funding available that can benefit students, there's definitely consideration to apply it in the future."

The Church of the Apostles founded the Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2011 to provide education in the arts and enrichment opportunities for students whose schools may have limited courses. For more than a decade, the academy has offered art classes and private music lessons for students in any age group. "Some of it is mission work," Potteiger said. "The idea was to have a place where students could study music and art as well." The academy also offers science courses such as stream studies, as the Church of the Apostles' large property encompasses part of Brubaker Run.

In addition to its educational enrichment programs, the Academy of Arts & Sciences frequently hosts free concert series at the Church of the Apostles. The church previously held the Crown Concert Series, which it revived as one of the academy's programs after a hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The next concert will feature local jazz group Temple Avenue, and it will take place on Sunday, Sept. 29, at 3 p.m.

For more information, visit https://apostlesucc.org.