29 Local Educators Receive $1,000 Donation from Independence Bowl

SHREVEPORT, La. (Dec. 22, 2025) – The Independence Bowl Foundation partnered with the College Football Playoff Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers for the fifth straight year to provide donations for local teachers, and through this partnership, the Independence Bowl donated $1,000 to 29 local educators in December 2025.

Educators at public schools from Caddo, Bossier, DeSoto, Red River and Webster Parishes were eligible for the donations, and the teachers selected were nominated by fans on the Independence Bowl website.

Through the partnership with Extra Yard for Teachers, the Independence Bowl Foundation has funded $40,000 to local teachers this year. The Independence Bowl and Extra Yard for Teachers also teamed up in March to donate $10,000 to Starbase Louisiana to help fund Barksdale Air Force Base’s Starbase branch during federal budget negotiations and donated $1,000 total to two teachers – Mrs. DiPaul from Eden Gardens Magnet Elementary and Mrs. Schneider from Waller Elementary – on the Extra Yard for Teachers BIG DAY on September 16, 2025. 

The Independence Bowl’s Extra Yard for Teachers initiative has donated $142,000 to local teachers and education projects since 2021. The donations over the past five years have funded 164 classrooms and impacted approximately 25,000 students in Northwest Louisiana.

The 29 educators funded in December 2025 are listed below. Each teacher received a $1,000 Donors Choose certificate to fund a classroom project of their choosing.

• Pam Anderson – Elm Grove Middle
• Cassaundra Anglin – Walnut Hill Elementary
• Allinder Armand – South Highlands Elementary
• Maureen Barclay – Captain Shreve High
• Tia Bell – Huntington High
• Caroline Calhoun – Caddo Middle Magnet
• Carrie Culpepper – Bellaire Elementary
• Jasheika Dennis – J.S. Clark Elementary
• Jamie Fields – North Highlands Elementary
• Amber Finimore – Platt Elementary
• Michelle Harp – Haughton High
• Sarah Hatcher – W.T. Lewis Elementary
• Marisa Jefferson – Blanchard Elementary
• Cherise Kelly – Meadowview Elementary
• Joslyn Love – Westwood Elementary
• Margaret-Rose Lutz – Caddo Parish Magnet High
• Cassidy Mainiero – Caddo Career & Technology
• Tomekia Morris – Creswell Elementary
• Brittney Myles – Caddo Middle Career & Technology
• Jennifer Powers – Eden Gardens Elementary
• Nashunte Ragster-Manuel – Green Oaks Performing Arts Academy
• Nicola Reed-Wilson – Keithville Middle
• Lauren Brooke Saulsbury – Youree Drive Middle
• Gavina Scroggins – Caddo Heights Elementary
• Taylor Thompson – Donnie Bickham Middle
• Kristen Vercher – Waller Elementary
• Lindsey Wallace – Fairfield Elementary
• Jennifer Westfall – Benton Middle
• Allie Zator – C.E. Byrd High

In addition to the $1,000 donations, each educator selected receives two tickets to the 2025 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl between Coastal Carolina and Louisiana Tech.

The 49th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl kicks off on Tuesday, December 30 at 1 p.m. CST. Tickets start at $20 and are on sale now at RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com/Tickets. There is a variety of ticket packages available – including individual tickets, group tickets, Pizza Hut Family 4-Packs, Small Business Fan Packs and more. For ticketing questions, fans can email [email protected] or call the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl office at (318) 221-0712. 

For information on Independence Stadium rules and the clear bag policy, please visit RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com/stadium-rules/. Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl fans can visit OpportunityLouisiana.gov to explore why Louisiana businesses are positioned to win. 

ABOUT THE RADIANCE TECHNOLOGIES INDEPENDENCE BOWL™

Established in 1976, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl™ is college football’s 11th most historic bowl game. The 49th edition will kick off on Tuesday, December 30 at 1 p.m. CST on ESPN. Radiance Technologies is the bowl’s title sponsor through at least the 2027 Bowl Season. The bowl’s conference and television agreements also run through the 2025 bowl game. 

The Independence Bowl Foundation is prevalent in the Shreveport-Bossier City area throughout the year, hosting events to help enhance the economic impact and growth of our community. The Mission of the Independence Bowl is to attract and provide quality, nationally recognized football competition oriented to the Ark-La-Tex region. For more information, visit RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com or follow the bowl on Facebook, X and Instagram at @IndyBowl.