WINDER, GA (August 8, 2025) |
Georgia United Credit Union Foundation partnered with Georgia United Credit Union to transform two rooms at Apalachee High School, creating calming and collaborative spaces for both students and faculty - just in time for the new school year. This makeover was made possible through the Foundation’s School Crashers® program – which offers accredited K-12 schools across the state an opportunity to apply for grants to improve the learning environment for the students, faculty, and staff.
AHS Principal Jessica Rehberg shared, “These two spaces have been a need since September 5, 2024… and we appreciate Georgia United getting to know us and understand exactly what students and faculty needed most before work began…” “They gave us a chance to be a part of thoughtful and intentional planning… It means a lot to us that this project was accomplished over the summer break, without disrupting instruction during the school year.” In addition to the collaborative and functional furniture additions, they provided customized words of encouragement via word wall graphics for both spaces.
Apalachee’s faculty, parents, and students were able to see this space for the first time at the school’s open house prior to the first day of school on August 1.
“Thanks to all the local volunteers who assisted us in priming and painting the space to prepare for the delivery and installation of selected Ernie Morris furniture and Mohawk area rugs. We are also grateful to the Barrow County Schools Foundation who will be donating privacy enclosures for the counseling area.” shared Debbie Smith, CEO of Georgia United. “This has truly been a community effort. Although these room makeover projects cannot erase the trauma of September 4th, 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,”
Since 2014, Georgia United has impacted a total of 81 schools with improvement projects valued at almost $3 million, made possible thanks to generous donors and volunteer involvement. The next School Crashers nomination period will open in mid-December to all accredited K-12 schools in Georgia. Interested schools will be asked to include a photograph along with a 250-word essay describing why their school deserves a makeover. 212 schools applied for grants in 2025 including the five schools that were selected to receive school improvements this summer. Apalachee High School joins Duluth Middle School, Clarkston High School, Southeast Whitfield High School and NW Laurens Elementary School as this year’s grant recipients.
To learn more about the School Crashers program and view photos of past School Crashers recipients, visit gucufoundation.org/schoolcrashers.
CEO Debbie Smith, and AHS Principal Jessica Rehberg in unveiling the two room makeovers that took place over the summer – a student counseling area and a faculty recharge room
The faculty recharge room is shown below:
The faculty “words of encouragement” wall:
Student calming space:
