BUTLER TWP - A new endowment, the Ralph A. and Mary Hope Nicholas Creative Teaching Grant in Creative Writing, will be awarded this year for the first time through The Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation.

"My grandfather graduated from Butler High School, as did my dad, his six children, and our children," said Lisa Nicholas Konesni, granddaughter of Ralph A. and Mary Hope Nicholas.

She and her husband, David V. Konesni; Ralph A. Nicholas, Jr., and Nicholas Enterprises, Inc., established the endowment to provide an opportunity for teachers in the Butler School District to enhance student creative writing.

The grant, of up to $500, will be awarded annually in October for a teacher-submitted innovative proposal that focuses on creative writing.

In addition to the new Nicholas grant, the foundation will award $5,000 in creative teaching grants, plus two other named creative teaching grants - the Mary McTighe Kelly Creative Teaching Grant, and The Victor K. Phillips Creative Teaching Grant in the Fine Arts.

Also, there is a one-time creative teaching grant in music in memory of Thomas W. Purvis.