North Bend’s Sallal Grange reformed last year with a dual focus on community service and music. Now, the organization wants to promote benefits of using music to motivate students, by awarding a new scholarship to a Valley school teacher.

The award funds participation at one of two one-day teacher workshops to be held on Friday, Feb. 25, at the Wintergrass Music Festival in Bellevue. A weekend pass to the acoustic music festival is included.

The ideal candidate is a music teacher working with middle or high school music students, or a progressive non-music teacher interested in learning cross-discipline approaches to motivating elementary or middle school students.

“What a terrific opportunity for a Valley teacher!” said Trisha Tubbs, a Snoqualmie resident and workshop director. “We’ve brought in some leading experts from around the country to create two innovative, interactive and interesting workshops. Teachers attending the workshop last year raved about it being the best workshop that they had ever been to.”

In tough economic times the arts are always at risk, yet studies show that they play an important role in brain development, motivating students and enhancing the learning experience. By supporting teachers and the Arts, the Sallal Grange hopes to help students and/or the next generation of musicians that will carry on the tradition of live and acoustic music in the Valley.

Applicants must either live or work in the Snoqualmie Valley (Snoqualmie Pass, North Bend, Snoqualmie, Preston, Fall City, and Carnation area). Applicants may be a teacher (music or other discipline), home schooler, curriculum specialist, college student studying education, college professor teaching education or music, or librarian. Applicants must submit a short (no more than one page) essay on why they should be awarded the scholarship and how they will use their experience to benefit their students and/or the Valley. Please include your name, address, phone, mobile phone, email, and pertinent information, including school and position. Although not required, letters of recommendation would be advisable.

Applications are to be sent to the Sallal Grange & Community Hall, PO Box 1688, North Bend, WA 98045 or emailed to info@sallalgrange.org. The application deadline is Thursday, Feb. 10.