SCE awarded GUCU School Crashers $25,000 grant
SCE awarded GUCU School Crashers $25,000 grant
Shoal Creek Elementary was recently selected for a Georgia United Credit Union School Crasher grant worth $25,000 to provide a newly renovated sensory room for students. GUCU representatives visited SCE last week to make this amazing announcement.
Principal Ronnie Banyard, Jr. said “I can’t wait for students to see it! They deserve it. It will be a space that is well utilized. This space will benefit the entire school.”
The new sensory room, slated to be open for the 2026-2027 school year, will provide a soft, safe space for students who need time to regulate or process and a place to provide emotional support.
SCE Parent Liaison Melanie Robinson wrote in her application: “The space will contain appropriate materials (warm lighting, soft colors, sensory tools) to help give students a safe space to regulate, de-stress and re-enter class ready to learn. With the help of School Crashers, we want every student to have access to this special room (when needed). This makeover has the power to positively transform our school community to create a supportive school climate that nurtures social-emotional development and student academic success.”
Over the next year GUCU will work with SCE and RCPS to renovate the new room. GUCU employees will contribute with volunteer hours for the project.
Georgia United Credit Union Community Development Officer Kim Wall brought greetings on behalf of CEO Laura King, “We are looking forward to serving our communities and strengthening our school systems through our 13th annual School Crashers program. This program is made possible by the Georgia United Foundation, credit union team members, generous donors, community partners and volunteers. We are especially excited about the Shoal Creek Elementary project as it is close to our Conyers Branch location, so we anticipate good volunteer support to transform this empty room into an important mental health resource.”
“Whenever members use Georgia United for a car loan, home loan or checking account, a part of those funds are given back to the community through scholarships, financial education or through programs like School Crashers that deliver inspiring learning spaces that strengthen schools. By the end of the summer, School Crashers improvements will have impacted a total of 86 schools with improvement estimated at over $3.2 million since 2014.”
Shoal Creek Elementary Principal Ronnie Banyard, Jr. expressed his gratitude, “My school and I are beyond honored that we were selected, and our students are going to benefit from the space that will be dedicated to them and their social emotional well-being. We are looking forward to this partnership.” Following the announcement at the school, Georgia United’s community development representatives will meet with the school to begin setting priorities and planning everything from paint and flooring to sensory equipment and comfortable seating. All facility upgrades to the space will be administered during summer break to ensure that regular instruction is not impacted. The new sensory room is scheduled to be ready for students and faculty to use by the start of the 2026-2027 school year.
Funding for the School Crashers program is provided by the Georgia United Credit Union, their 501c3 charitable Foundation, and generous donations made by community partners, with labor provided by volunteers. If you or your organization would like to contribute to this summer’s makeover program, visit www.gucufoundation.org/donate. To learn more about the School Crashers program and view photos of past School Crashers recipients, visit gucufoundation.org/schoolcrashers, where additional 2026 grant recipients will be listed as they are announced during the month of March.
Pictured below, left to right: Rockdale County Board of Education Chairwoman Sandra Jackson-Lett, Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) Superintendent Shirley Chesser, Shoal Creek Elementary (SCE) Principal Ronnie Banyard, Jr., SCE Parent Liaison Melanie Robinson, Georgia United Community Development Officer Kim Wall, RCPS Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Schools Dr. LaSharon McClain. Shoal Creek Elementary was recently selected for Georgia United Credit Union School Crashers grant worth $25,000 for a new sensory room for students. GUCU representatives visited SCE for the official announcement March 12, 2026.
