Independence Bowl to Donate $5,000 Apiece to Fairfield Elementary Magnet School and Bossier Parish School for Technology and Innovative Learning

SHREVEPORT, La. (Dec. 21, 2022) – Continuing to support local education and teachers, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl announced Wednesday that the organization will donate $5,000 apiece to Fairfield Elementary Magnet School and Bossier Parish School for Technology and Innovative Learning to support programs promoting teacher retention, recruitment and recognition.

“After donating almost $46,000 to local teacher projects in September, we are happy to donate a total of $10,000 to local schools to help with teacher retention, recruitment and recognition,” said Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Executive Director Missy Setters. “Education is such a vital aspect of continuing to grow our local community, and this year’s education funding of over $55,000 is one of the largest philanthropic impacts the Independence Bowl Foundation have been able to support. We hope we can help improve the future of students all throughout our local area.”

The $10,000 in donations is the second part of over $55,000 in donations from the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl to local teachers and education in 2022. During Extra Yard for Teachers Week in September, the bowl donated $45,986 to 45 different teachers in Caddo, Bossier, DeSoto, Red River and Webster Parishes. 

Fairfield Elementary Magnet will use the $5,000 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl to create a new, football-themed program that will focus on all three categories – teacher recruitment, retention and recognition. The program will have three main goals – reducing barriers that isolate new faculty and staff members; creating a school culture that supports and nurtures team members that go above and beyond the call of duty by noting the extra responsibility they assume to help Fairfield realize their vision; and developing a program where administrators honor hard work and effort with a well-developed team member recognition program.

To improve recruitment of teachers, Fairfield Elementary Magnet will aim to on-board new employees in a positive way and facilitate their transition into Fairfield team members. The retention aspect of the program will use football as their main theme throughout the year. Team members will be recognized each month for achievements and accomplishments at monthly faculty huddles, and they will receive field goal, touchdown and two-point conversion awards at those monthly meetings and a year-end teacher awards luncheon. If effective, the program will reduce the need for new faculty and staff by creating a culture for employees that respects and values their contributions.

Bossier Parish School for Technology and Innovative Learning will use the $5,000 grant to grow and support Educators Rising-Bossier – a district club for middle and high school students who have expressed interest in the teaching profession and embody the characteristics of strong educators. The purpose of the club is to recruit and support a diverse population of students through Bossier Parish Schools’ Grow Your Own teacher recruitment and retention initiative. 

In the first year of implementation, Educators Rising-Bossier serves approximately 60 students in grades 8-12.Students representing each middle and high school in Bossier Parish attend monthly meetings at Bossier Parish School for Technology and Innovative Learning. Currently, student members are required to pay a $25 club fee, and some students are unable to obtain the funding. The $5,000 grant from the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl will support club activities that promote the teaching profession, connect students with a local and national community of aspiring educators, and position local students for future success in the field.

The 2022 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl will be the 46th playing of Shreveport’s annual college football bowl game—set to kick off this Friday, December 23 at 2 p.m. CT between the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and Houston Cougars.

Public tickets are $30 for endzone bench, $45 for sideline bench and $65 for a limited quantity of sideline chairback seats. There are also a bevy of other ticket packages available—including group tickets, Family 4-Packs, Small Business Fan Packs and the exclusive Chairman’s Club. For more information on tickets to the 2022 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, visit RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com/tickets or call the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl office at 318.221.0712 or toll-free at 888.414.BOWL.

Fans can plan their trip to Shreveport for the 46th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl at LouisianaTravel.com.

Independence Bowl Foundation Survey

The Independence Bowl is conducting a survey about both the Independence Bowl Foundation and Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl in order to improve the organization. The bowl asks that fans, both locally and regionally, complete the survey and provide feedback on various aspects of the Foundation and bowl. To complete the brief survey, visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/2022_Independence_Bowl_Survey.

ABOUT THE RADIANCE TECHNOLOGIES INDEPENDENCE BOWL™

Established in 1976, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl™ is the nation’s 11th-oldest bowl game, and the 46th edition will be played on Friday, December 23, 2022 at 2 p.m. CT between Army West Point and a team form the American Athletic Conference. The UAB Blazers defeated the No. 13 BYU Cougars 31-28 in the 45th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl on Saturday, December 18, 2021. The Independence Bowl Foundation announced a one-year extension with Radiance Technologies – ensuring they will be the title sponsor through 2025. The bowl’s conference and team agreements, as well as the television agreement, also run through the 2025 season. Army West Point and BYU are slated to matchup against a rotation of the Pac-12 Conference, American Athletic Conference and Conference USA, which will be televised on an ESPN network.

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, Twitter and Instagram at @IndyBowl.