Page 12 - South Mississippi Living - March, 2026

COAST NOTE
story by Lynn Lofton
Ten of Mississippi’s teachers received Leo W. Seal Innovative Teacher Grants to honor their commitment to educational excellence and to pay for original teaching projects designed to enrich students’ education with hands-on learning opportunities. Each grant recipient receives up to $2,000 to activate their award-winning creative learning initiative at their school.
Additionally, the program pays tribute to the legacies of the late Leo W. Seal, Sr., and his son, the late Leo W. Seal, Jr. Both men championed educational and economic growth across the Gulf Coast.
“We at Hancock Whitney congratulate this year’s grant recipients and extend our heartfelt gratitude to them and
their fellow educators for their dedication to building strong educational foundations for their students,” said Vice President and Senior Communications Officer Paul Maxwell.
Winners are Tanya Rae Adams, North Woolmarket Elementary & Middle School, Light Fingerprints: Unlocking the Hidden Signatures of Elements. Emily Katherine Bethea, Christ Covenant School, From Crime Scenes to Cancer Genes: Real-World DNA Investigations for Students. Elaine Barnes Dent, Vancleave Middle School, Solar or Wind: Which is the better alternative energy source in Mississippi? Jacqueline Aultman Foreman, D’Iberville Middle School, Warrior Brew. Schenel Fricke, Hancock County, Career & Technical Center, Young Entrepreneurship. Matthew Godshaw, Petal High School, The Air We Share: Student Scientists Tackling Sickness through Air Quality Monitoring.
Annual FUNraiser for a Cure
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photo courtesy of United MSD Foundation
The 9th Annual Zebra Run for Rare Disease returns on March 7, 2026, bringing together community, compassion, and critical fundraising for Multiple Sulfatase Deficiency (MSD) research and family support. Once again, Zebra Run will feature a local event at Fort Maurepas Park in Ocean Springs, alongside virtual runs across the country and around the world, allowing participants everywhere to join the mission whether they’re near or far.
The in-person event includes a one-mile, all-ages fun run and a chip-timed 5K, with runners and walkers welcome in both distances. Beyond the race, the day offers music, family- friendly activities, and food, making Zebra Run as much a community celebration as a fundraiser.
Thanks to the generous support of 61 sponsors, 443 runners and walkers from 20 U.S. states and Spain, and dozens of volunteers at the 2025 event, more than $90,000 was raised for vital MSD research and family resources. Your participation makes a meaningful impact.
Zebras are the mascot of the rare disease community—a symbol of uncommon conditions that deserve attention and care. Whether you run in Ocean Springs or online, your steps help move the race toward a cure.
United MSD Foundation
www.curemsd.org/zebra-run
12 | March 2026
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living