The Lamar Educational Awards Foundation (LEAF) brought together community members, business partners, and supporters for its recent Clays for Classrooms event, raising funds to support innovative teacher grants, student opportunities, and educational programs across Lamar CISD.

Held at American Shooting Centers on Thursday, March 26, 2026, the event welcomed participants for a day of friendly competition, connection, and giving back—all in support of Lamar CISD classrooms. This year’s event generated more than $138,000 through sponsorships, competition, and raffle sales.

“Clays events are a powerful way to support education foundations because they bring together fundraising, community engagement, and corporate participation,” Lorin Pargoud, Vice President and event chair of PBK, shared. “It was incredible to see contractors, subcontractors, engineers, architects, community members, the LEAF board, and Lamar CISD all come together for such a meaningful cause. This was just the first of many Clays for Classrooms tournaments, and I’m already excited for next year.”

Special recognition goes to the businesses that generously donated raffle prizes, helping raise nearly $10,000 through raffle sales alone. These funds will directly support classroom innovation, student enrichment opportunities, and programs that enhance learning experiences at Lamar CISD.

Participants competed in a clay shooting tournament while enjoying time with colleagues and community partners. Attendees were also treated to barbecue served by Compadre Cookers.

LEAF recognized this year’s top teams, with Traylor Mechanical placing first with 317 points, followed by Deanco with 301 and Drymalla with 207. Team members included Shane Rowe, Kyle Kentor, Jason Traylor, and Zach Harrison for Traylor Mechanical; Joel Littlefield, Michael Schmitt, Josh Williamson, and Greg Funderburk for Deanco; and Will Matthews, Logan Stoelke, Seth Smith, and Brandon Blount for Drymalla.

Individual recognitions included Michael Schmitt of Deanco as the Top Shooter with 83% accuracy, Kyle Kentor of Traylor Mechanical earning second place with 81% accuracy, and Zach Harrison of Traylor Mechanical and Todd Dillingham of Dilly Campus Supply tying for third place with 80% accuracy.

“When you see a community come together for our students, it reminds you why this work matters,” Dr. Roosevelt Nivens, Superintendent of Lamar CISD, said. “Our students benefit from their support in real ways, and we’re thankful to everyone who continues to invest in their success.”

The impact of Clays for Classrooms extends far beyond the event itself, helping create new opportunities for students and supporting meaningful work taking place in classrooms throughout Lamar CISD.

“The success of our inaugural Clays for Classrooms event marks a pivotal moment for our organization. Not only has it helped raise essential funds, but it also empowers us to expand the reach and impact of our educational programs,” Kameela Lewis, Executive Director of LEAF, said. “Every dollar raised directly contributes to providing more students with the resources and opportunities they deserve, strengthening our mission to foster growth and success in classrooms across our academic community. We are deeply grateful to our community and sponsors for making this event such a powerful tool in advancing our cause.

A photo gallery highlighting moments from LEAF’s Clays for Classrooms event can be viewed HERE.

A full list of event sponsors can be found HERE. 

To learn more about the impact of the event, visit the LEAF blog post HERE.