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NAPLES — Big Cypress Elementary School students will have an addition to their natural habitat science classroom, thanks to the Education Foundation of Collier County.

The school’s garden, which includes a pond, was granted funds for its new butterfly garden and hummingbird plants around its perimeter.

“It did come true... How wonderful,” third-grade teacher Martha Kriek said, as she accepted a certificate and a check for the project.

“I didn’t think it would come true.”

Kriek was one of 62 Collier County teachers in 41 Collier public schools surprised by The Education Foundation of Collier County with grant awards Thursday to ensure that their creative projects continue.

Last year, Kriek incubated quail eggs that hatched in the classroom. Once they were old enough, the chicks were moved into the garden.

This year, 78 grants, which totaled more than $30,000, were awarded through the Connect with a Classroom online grant project.

For the past 19 years, The Education Foundation has been distributing grants for classroom projects that cannot be funded through regular school budgets.

Teachers apply online and community members and educators score the ideas for funding, which is provided by The License for Learning License Plate Fund, Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union and individual donors.

Tom Sobczak, a member of the grant committee who helped determine the grant recipients, said he looked at about 200 applications for well-detailed programs that would help the students and be sustainable.

“There were so many great ideas and programs suggested this year, I only wish we could fund all their requests that were submitted,” he said.

This is the first year that the grants were presented earlier in the school year.

Moments before presenting the awards, Big Cypress Elementary Principal Angela Lettiere said she was excited about the school receiving two grants.

Lettiere said she was hoping the school would receive the garden project grant since many of the students enjoy it.

Kriek received a $700 grant for the garden beautification project, which was funded by the Collier County Audubon Society Education Fund.

Third graders in Kriek’s class were thrilled about the addition to the garden, which is adjacent to their classroom.

Alexis Davis, 8, was one of many of the school’s students looking forward to the arrival of hummingbirds.

Across campus, for the second year, third-grade teacher Connie Scott received a $268.60 grant for a “Bag it! Read it! Hear it! Pass it Along” project, funded by The License for Learning License Plate Fund. Her students will receive new books and a CD player to be used for silent reading at school and home.

Scott said the project helps students increase their fluency levels and listening skills.

The third graders cheered as their teacher accepted the award.

“Wow, that is so cool,” Elliot Cortes, 8, said. “We get a CD player.

For Vineyards Elementary School students, second-grade teacher Nancy Schmidt’s grant will mean a new library for the school. The $370.38 grant, which was funded by LP Creativity, will replace the VHS library with DVDs.

Schmidt said that without the grant, the school wouldn’t have been able to replace the video equipment.

Earlier Thursday morning, Gulf Coast High School environmental science teacher John Egaña was surprised during his first class.

“Alright. Good deal,” he said, as he was presented with the gift by Education Foundation member Joanne Fowler.

Egaña was excited to implement his $780 grant, which will enable the high school’s Green Club to teach environmental lessons, including about a hydrogen car, to students at Oakridge Middle and North Naples middle schools.

“This is very helpful,” Egaña said. “It helps us present the program.”

Fowler urged school principals to keep encouraging teachers to apply for the grant.

For more information on the Connect with a Classroom project or to view a list of projects that still need financial support, visit www.connectwithaclassroom.org.