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YARMOUTHPORT-The League of Women Voters Civic Education Fund of The Cape Cod Foundation has announced $2,200 in grant awards to Cape Cod schools. The Fund supports middle and high school teachers in initiating, or expanding, civic education opportunities for their students with the goal of creating an engaged citizenry capable of effective participation in the civic process, in their communities and in society. “The Fund is proud to support these civics education opportunities for Cape students, “stated Karen Mazza, Youth Service Chair and immediate past President of the League. “We feel it is critically important to support our schools as they help students learn about government and civic participation in the context of real world issues that affect their lives. “ The grantees are Barnstable High School’s Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. Government and Politics class and AP Human Geography class, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School’s AP U.S. History class and Senior Honors Seminar class, and Nathaniel H. Wixon Innovation School’s Fifth Grade class. Grants will support transportation costs associated with an interactive simulation experience to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate. The Institute's Senate Immersion Module (SIM) is a program for middle and high school students that use negotiation and debate skills to learn about the legislative process. Using advanced technology on tablets provided by the Institute, groups of students work together to create a bill on a historic issue or current policies affecting the country. The key objective is for students to learn about and participate in democracy. As students master this civic process they will have an enhanced understanding of the complexity of our government procedures and an increased knowledge and confidence enabling them to be more engaged and active citizens in the school and community. The Cape Cod Foundation is a community foundation whose mission is to build permanent charitable resources for community betterment through informed grantmaking and civic leadership. The Foundation has distributed more than $55 million in grants and scholarships since its founding in 1989. www.capecodfoundation.org The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. The local chapter started in Orleans in 1959 and later expanded to become the League of Women Voters of the Cape Cod Area. www.lwvcapecod.org.