EDUCATION
ENTERPRISE AREA CHAMBER FOUNDATION, INC.
GLORIA SESSIONS VENTRESS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Gloria Sessions Ventress, the daughter of Mary and Lewe Sessions, was born and raised in Enterprise, Alabama. She attended the local public schools and went on to graduate from the University of Alabama with a degree in education. She taught in the Enterprise school system. Gloria later left the area to focus on raising her family, but she returned to Enterprise in 1979, where she lived for the rest of her life. A devoted member of First Baptist Church throughout her youth and in her later years, Gloria had a strong passion for the education of young people in her community, and the teachers who educated them. She shared this interest with her father, Lewe, who served for many years on the Enterprise School Board.
In memory of Gloria Sessions Ventress, her children have endowed a scholarship through the Enterprise Area Chamber Foundation, Inc. The Gloria Sessions Ventress Memorial Scholarship, funded by an endowment of approximately $100,000, is awarded annually to a graduating high school senior residing in Enterprise, Alabama, who will be attending a four-year college.
The amount of the scholarship will be determined by the interest earned during the previous tax year, which has historically averaged between $3,000 - $4,000. *The annual dollar amount will be provided to the Enterprise High School Guidance Counselor on a year-to-year basis.
We are happy to announce that Anna Jane Lavender is the 2026 recipient!
Next year's application will be available in January 2027.
The Enterprise Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce Ms. Amber Henson, of the Visual Arts Department at Enterprise High School, as the recipient of the 2026 Innovative Teaching Project Grant.
The award was presented during a surprise ceremony on April 24, 2026, at Enterprise High School in recognition of Henson’s outstanding proposal to establish a Fine Art Screenprint Lab for students.
Grant funding will be used to purchase professional screen-printing equipment that will allow students to learn the complete printmaking process—from original concept design to producing high-quality finished editions. The lab will provide students with hands-on experience in a STEAM-integrated environment that combines visual arts, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through creative problem-solving and technical skill development.
Through the new lab, students will gain valuable knowledge in areas such as design planning, production processes, color layering, precision alignment, entrepreneurship, and professional art distribution. The equipment will serve both introductory and advanced art students while becoming a permanent resource for future classes.
“This grant represents an investment not only in the arts, but in the future of our students and workforce,” said Erin Grantham, Executive Director of the Enterprise Chamber of Commerce. “By supporting innovative classroom opportunities like this, we are helping students develop creativity, technical skills, confidence, and real-world experience that will benefit them for years to come. We are proud to partner with our schools to create meaningful learning experiences that strengthen our entire community.”
The Chamber’s Innovative Teaching Project Grant was created to support educators who bring forward-thinking ideas into the classroom and enhance student learning through innovation, engagement, and career readiness.
The Enterprise Chamber of Commerce congratulates Ms. Henson and Enterprise City Schools on this exciting initiative and looks forward to seeing the positive impact this project will have on students for generations to come.
This grant is available to all instructors of the Enterprise City Schools and awards up to $2,500 each year. The grants are based on creative and original ideas that promote innovative activities and motivate students. Applications are made available in January, with a submission deadline of March 31st. The Chamber’s Workforce Education Committee Chairman, Angela Brockman, encourages teachers to think of their most innovative ideas, draft a plan, and apply for a future Innovative Teaching Grant.
Questions? Contact the Enterprise Chamber of Commerce office at 334-347-0581.
